Ninety-Five Theses (Map Game)

''The wiki has drastically changed since the end of Principia Moderni III. We've been losing a lot of users, and have only seen a huge influx of new ones. I have never seen a massive high quality game since then. The staff of Ninety-Five Theses promises you the best quality game since PM, and hopes that you'll enjoy your experience while a part of the game.''

-Staff of Ninety-Five Theses

The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences were written by Martin Luther and posted on the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg. Martin Luther's actions created a chain reaction that led to almost a century-and-a-half of fighting that weakened both the Holy Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church. What direction will you take in this quest? How will you face the looming, and ever growing, Protestant Reformation? How will you interpret the Ninety-Five Theses?

Rules
See also Rules (Ninety-Five Theses Map Game)

Here are the basic rules for Ninety-Five Theses:


 * Each turn is one entire year. A new "year" shall begin at 00:00 (UTC) every day.
 * Wars will be decided by the algorithm on the talk page.
 * Any player disputes will be resolved by the moderator staff.
 * A player has three plausibility strikes. First time is a warning, second time is a ban and third time you're banned from the game.
 * Players may not create new sciences or technologies on their own but must instead approach the Moderator Team with the technology and provide explanations why they should discover the advancement; it will then be announced in the Mod Events section of the turn. Requests to advance are on the talk page.

Moderators
All moderators must see Saturn1257 so they can receive the mod page for the game.
 * Saturn1257 -- (Moderator-in-Chief)
 * PitaKang
 * Feudalplague
 * Edgeofnight
 * Reximus55
 * CrimsonAssassin
 * Daxus Inferno
 * Krasnoyarsk

Western Europe

 * Flag Portugal (1495).svg Portugal - FP ( Now 10% edgier!!!  )


 * Mozambique (Port) -
 * Zanzibar (Port) -
 * Goa (Port) -
 * St. Tome (Port) -
 * Fernando Pó (Port) -
 * Muscat (Port) -
 * Malacca -
 * Madeira -
 * Azores -
 * Lakshadweep (colony)
 * Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spain - Scarlet Outlaw
 * Hispaniola (Colony) - Scarlet Outlaw
 * Cuba (Colony) - Scarlet Outlaw
 * Bahamas (Colony) - Scarlet Outlaw
 * Jamaica (Colony) - Scarlet Outlaw
 * Puerto Rico (Colony) - Scarlet Outlaw
 * Kingdom of Naples: Scarlet Outlaw
 * Kingdom of Sicily: Scarlet Outlaw
 * Habsburg Lowlands - Prinsenvlag.svg Hail Sean!   (Get a free potato here)
 * County of Flanders- vinnyusBe mapping
 * Bandera de Reino de Navarra.svg.png Navarre - User:Kingkush1
 * Pavillon royal de la France.svg France - Flag_of_South_Korea.png PitaKang- (Talk to me | Kill count: 8)
 * Flag of England.svg England -
 * Calais (Port) - Scraw
 * Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland - StarEagle.png Nicktc StarEagle.png

Scandinavia

 * Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark (Kalmar Union) -
 * Norway -
 * Sweden - Redbaran45 (talk)
 * Iceland (Colony)
 * Faroe Islands (Colony)

Central Europe and Holy Roman Empire

 * Flag of Austria.svg Austria - TheGreatHistorian500 (talk)
 * Flag of Bohemia.svg Bohemia - Great showing. B23 (talk)
 * Wappen Mark Brandenburg.png Brandenburg - Nkbeeching
 * Flag of Bavaria (striped).svg Bavaria -  The Empire shall rise, and all will kneel at our...  foot... stubs...
 * Flag of Electoral Saxony.svg Saxony -
 * Flag of The Electoral Palatinate (1604).svg Pfalz
 * Black St George's Cross.svg Cologne
 * LuikVlag.svg Liege
 * Early Swiss cross.svg Swiss Confederacy- Crim de la Crème 19:36, February 14, 2016 (UTC)
 * Three Leagues- Crim de la Crème 19:36, February 14, 2016 (UTC)
 * Valais- Crim de la Crème 19:36, February 14, 2016 (UTC)
 * Savoie flag.svg Savoy - Through Stars We Rise. (Welcome to the Universe).
 * Saluzzo
 * March of Montferrat -
 * Flag of Genoa.svg Genoa - KawaiiKame
 * Flag of Milan.svg Duchy of Milan - Tomw1864
 * Margravate of Mantua -
 * Duchy of Ferrara - Willster22 (Say 'Ello)
 * Duchy of Modena - Tao64
 * Pontremali
 * Republic of Lucca -
 * Florence - Flippedlion.png NicDonalds, Beginning Editor  Talk Lionsymbol.png


 * Elba
 * Piombino
 * Siena - Cbj12
 * County of Tyrol -
 * Wuerttemberg Banner.svg Duchy of Württemberg -  The  Tim   Man  (TSW • AH • MGW • Contribs )
 * Prince Bishopric of Munster -
 * Archbishopric of Salzburg -
 * Bishopric of Würzburg - IronChaos
 * Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg - I am that guy (talk)
 * Duchy of Lorraine -
 * Duchy of Mecklenburg -
 * Duchy of Pomerania -
 * Venice -
 * Stato de Mar - *See Me*
 * Papal States - Sat (Talk to me!)


 * Camerino - Sat (Talk to me!)
 * Ancona - Sat (Talk to me!)

Eastern Europe

 * Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg Poland-Lithuania - KingSparta300 (talk)
 * Insignia Germany Order Teutonic.svg Teutonic Knights -  Constantinus Byzantinus Maximus Talk At Me
 * Baltic coat of arms.svgnd - Wrto12 (talk)
 * Livonian Order - Wrto12 (talk)
 * Moscow -
 * Ryazan -
 * Flag of the Kazan Khanate.svgr Kazan -
 * Astrakhan - Vatonica (talk)
 * Nogai - Privelige Check!

Southern Europe and Balkans

 * Hungary -  .....   Because I'm Just... Too... SSSWWWEEEEEETTT!!!
 * Ottoman Empire - I would like to thank Feud for making Borealia possible
 * Crimean Khanate - I would like to thank Feud for making Borealia possible
 * Moldavia - Alexander of Volzhsky (talk)
 * Georgia - Cookiedamage (talk) 01:36, February 14, 2016 (UTC)
 * The Knights of Rhodes - Zamarak500 (talk)
 * Wallachia -

East Asia

 * Ming Dynasty - Love you, Everyone&#39;s favorite Girl, Kaori!
 * Joseon - There was a candy,  and it said,  "Bruh, I'm coming for you, bruh. Oi, g'day mate you wanna mate?" ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Japanese Archipeligo

 * Japan (Ashikaga) - OMGdidiwin Columbian Empire Flag 2 Alt 1.jpg
 * Matsumae
 * Mutsu
 * Dewa
 * Echigo
 * Aizu
 * Shimotzuke
 * Hitachi
 * Shimosa
 * Kasuza
 * Satomi Awa
 * Sagami
 * Suruga
 * Musashi
 * Etchu
 * Noto
 * Inaba
 * Mikawa
 * Ise
 * Owari
 * Yamashiro
 * Omi
 * Harima
 * Kwatchi
 * Hosokawa Awa
 * Iyo
 * Izumo
 * Aki
 * Suo
 * Tsushima
 * Chikuzen
 * Bungo
 * Hyuga
 * Higo
 * Hizen
 * Chikugo
 * Satsuma
 * Ryukyu

Southeast Asia

 * Dai Viet -
 * Khmer Empire - Daeseunglim (talk)
 * Ayutthaya - Mr. Lello (talk)
 * Pegu
 * Laos
 * Ava
 * Shans Tribes
 * Toungoo
 * Cheingmai
 * Assam
 * Mrohaung

Asian Islands

 * Majapahit-
 * Pajajaran-
 * Johore Sultanate
 * Aceh Sultanate
 * Padir
 * Pasai
 * Perlak
 * Aru
 * Jambi
 * Palembang
 * Demak Sulatanate
 * Gresik
 * Bali
 * Sumbawa
 * Bimi
 * Sambas
 * Sulu
 * Sukada
 * Sampit
 * Banjarmasin
 * Pasir
 * Kutei
 * Berau
 * Makassar
 * Luwu
 * Butung
 * Laiwu
 * Bungku
 * Buol
 * Banggai
 * Gorotnalo
 * Jailolo
 * Tidore
 * Bacan
 * Magindanau
 * Brunei
 * Ternate

Central Asia

 * Tibet - Shikata ga nai!
 * Oirat Khanate -
 * Kashmir -
 * Turfan (Eastern Chagatai Khanate) -
 * Kashgar (Western Chagatai Khanate) - Captainjohnrex (talk)
 * Khiva -
 * Bukhara - Bozistanball
 * Timurid Kabulistan - Simmy1993
 * Khazakh Khanate
 * Khanate of Sibir
 * Mongolia

Indian Sub-continent

 * Bengal - Roman-spqr-flag.png Consul Ioshua has returned.  (Talk) SPQR_EMBLEM.jpg
 * Delhi -
 * Vijayanagara -
 * Ceylon -
 * Multan -
 * Sindh -
 * Gujarat -
 * Malwa -
 * Kandesh -
 * Ahmadnagar -
 * Bijapur -
 * Bahmani -
 * Berar -
 * Gajapatis -
 * Bikaner
 * Jalsalmeer
 * Marwar
 * Mewar
 * Mandia
 * Garha
 * Deogarh
 * Patan
 * Koch
 * Maldives- Jbwncster   (Talk)  RustySilverGear.png 16:01, February 15, 2016 (UTC)

Middle East

 * Persia - Awesome history 28 (talk)
 * Sistan -
 * Baluchi tribes -
 * Tahiride Yemen -
 * Nabhani Sultanate - Daxus the Harbinger of Lameness (talk)

Oceania
Papauan Angu tribe  -  SkyGreen24

Northern Coast

 * Hasfid - Sine dei gloriem &#34;Ex Initio Terrae&#34; (talk)
 * Wattassid -
 * Tlemcen -

West Africa

 * Songhai - User:Person67
 * Benin - Flag of the Xanian Empire.svg Vivaporius: "I don't need a slogan"
 * Wolof
 * Futa Toro
 * Wagadugu
 * Gurma
 * Kenkodogo
 * Mamprussi
 * Gonja
 * Dagomba
 * Bono
 * Heman
 * Allada
 * Agona
 * Oyo
 * Ife
 * Warri
 * Brass
 * Bonny
 * Bamoun
 * Kebbi
 * Yauri
 * Zamfara
 * Gobir
 * Biram
 * Zaria
 * Kano
 * Daura
 * Katsina
 * Daniski
 * Hadejia
 * Empire of Bornu
 * Mandera
 * Bagirmi
 * Wadai

​Southern Africa

 * Kongo -
 * Ndongo
 * Lunda
 * Rwanda
 * Nkore
 * Karagwe
 * Bunyoro
 * Buganda
 * Rozwi
 * Great Zimbabwe

Horn of Africa

 * Ethiopia - DCUnited13
 * Adal
 * Funj
 * Mogadishu -
 * Shilluk Kingdom

Mexican Valley

 * Aztec - Erizium (talk)
 * Xoconochco
 * Michoacan
 * Culican
 * Chametlan
 * Astatlan
 * Tonallan
 * Coinan
 * Poncitlan
 * Cuitzeo
 * Ayutitlan
 * Azmola
 * Colimotl
 * Xilotan
 * Huextla
 * Metztitlan
 * Hueyacocotlan
 * Tlaxcalans
 * Huetzcotzingo
 * Cholula
 * Yopitzingo
 * Tototopec
 * Nuuntoo
 * Coatlicamac
 * Guaspaltepec
 * Xaltepec
 * Ualtepec
 * Coatzacualco
 * Yahualulco

​Yucatan

 * Potonchan
 * Chilapa
 * Xicallanco
 * Chanputun
 * Ahcanul
 * Chakan
 * Cehpech
 * Ahkinchel
 * Chauaca
 * Cupul
 * Hocaba
 * Susuta
 * Tutulxiu
 * Ecab
 * Cohcuah
 * Huaymil
 * Mazanahau
 * Tayasal
 * Chiapen
 * Chicomuceltec
 * Comitan
 * Cupanahuastla
 * Uatlan
 * Chiya
 * Iximiche
 * Cuscatlan

Miscellaneous Tribes

 * Cherokee - Nlenhardt (talk)

South America

 * Inca - Kostdanila (talk)
 * Guayaqil

1517
In October, Martin Luther, an Augustinian priest, posts the Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences on the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Saxony and sends it for publication; it has spread throughout Europe in two months.

'''After a long year of war against the Mamluks, Ottoman troops march into Cairo victorious. The Mamluks unconditionally surrender, as well as the Sharif of Mecca, who put the holy cities of Mecca and Medina under Ottoman control. Several European powers start to grow weary of this growing power that is now being consolidated.'''

'''Pope Leo X closes the 5th Council of Lateran. The council, however, is unable to discuss Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, as the council ended seven months before it was published.'''

'''Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernão Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary. During this contact, Portugal makes the first oceanic trade with China.'''

'''The sweating sickness breaks out in Oxford and Cambridge. The English nobility worries about the possibility that the sickness may spread to London.'''

'''The mod staff apologizes for the fact that the algorithm isn't up yet. We will have it as soon as it's ready.'''

Please read the Technology Rules, select a primary and secondary focus (and if in the Western European technology tier, an idea) and mark your selections here.


 * Benin: Receiving disturbing information as to the level of advancement of the Europeans who visited his nation, the Oba of Benin, Esigie, seeks to bring his nation up to par with the Europeans of the far north. With the few guns given to him as a gift by the Portuguese in the late-1400s, Esigie orders his blacksmiths to immediately reorganize themselves to produce firearms for the Royal and Metropolitan Regiments of the military. Calling upon their expertise in metalworking, the blacksmiths answer the call as best they can, and inform the Oba that they will begin work on firearms as quickly as possible. Esigie hopes this will reduce his nation's reliance on Europe for gunpowder weapons. However, the Oba notes that the use of gunpowder is not the only issue standing in front of him. Taking a brief tour of his nation, Esigie notes the lack of a unified currency, a writing system to record laws for posterity, a well-organized but highly divided government, a poor transportation network, and greedy chiefs taking the profits gained from trade with the Europeans for themselves rather than investing it in their territories. Oba Esigie notes that the Europeans from what his diplomat to Portugal has told him, are clearly superior to his own people, and resolves to change that immediately. Capitalizing on his peace wit the Oyo and Ife, Esigie decides to focus the vast resources of Benin into modernizing the nation, leaving his people as an example to the rest of Africa. In a royal decree to his people, Esigie first declares the formation of a single currency to be known as the mpempe to unify all trade and transactions within the empire, as well as establishing a royal treasury in his capital city of Edo. Second, he declares the formation of a new writing system formulated by himself and several of the Christian missionaries sent to Benin in the 1490s, and declares that all documents by royal and otherwise are to be written in this new script. Lastly, to legitimize himself in the eyes of the Europeans, Esigie converts to Catholicism and orders his court to do the same on pain of death, and immediately sends a message to Rome to sent a bishop to establish an diocese in his kingdom. In the east of his nation, Esigie orders the Edogun of the Royal Regiments to expand the empire into the Igbo lands, using superior numbers and firepower to take the cities of Agbor, Owa Oyibu, Obomkpa, and Issele Ukwu. Benin expands by 100 px.
 * Making firearms immedietly at the start of the game is a little early. Wait a decade or so at the least before you start doing that, Viva. Sat (Talk to me!)
 * Nabhani Sultanate (Oman): The Sultan of Oman, fearful of the Ottomans after the defeat of the Mamluks, orders for the military to increase substantially. The cornerstone of this military will be the navy, but due to Oman's geography enough wood is hard to find, so traders are sent as far as Zanzibar and Jakarta to buy woods for spices. The Sultanate seizes the island of Bahrain and expands 6px on the Southern coast.
 * Omani Diplomacy: An alliance and trade deal is offered to the fellow non-Sunnis of Persia. An offer is sent to Portugal to buy back the port of Muscat in return for a lucrative trade deal, a few crates of ivory, a hundred educated slaves, a dozen harem girls, and continued to access to use of the port for five years and three years of access in Dubai.
 * Ottoman Diplomacy: A special caravan from the Sultanate offers to buy Oman's spices at a greater price if they do not ally with Persia
 * (Who owns Masirah Island?)
 * ​You do, it's just a map error. 


 * Württemberg: The government finds Luther's theses intriguing and investigates further into the proposals made by the monk, despite protests by the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, the Duke begins to consider expansion of his realm. He starts a search for military talent to expand the military. We wish to discuss trade with Bavaria and Austria.
 * Bavarian Diplomacy: Duke William IV of Bavaria and Duke Louis X of Bavaria are open to a trade deal with Württemberg, while also offering Württemberg a military alliance and secretly offering to split the lands between us, in order to gain common borders, while to seal the alliance we offer to betroth Duke's William IV now-legitimized son Georg v.Hegnenberg (8 years old), being the only child of Duke William IV of Bavaria, while Duke Louis X of Bavaria has no children yet, with the daughter of the Duke Ulrich I, when he has one, in order to marry when they come of age.
 * Württemberg OOC: Just a continuity issue here: In 1517, the Duke of Württemberg was Ulrich I; John Frederick was not born yet and would not become Duke for another 91 years; Antonia wasn't around yet either. Thus, I suggest you alter your offer to suit current conditions.
 * Württemberg: The Duke currently has no children, but should this situation change, and a female child is born, she will be betrothed to Prince Georg. We agree with this military alliance, and hope for a bright future ahead for our new friendship.
 * (Sorry i did a quick research, also i changed nation and someone else has take this nation.)
 * Bavarian Dip: Ah, our mistake. Our records seem to have been out of order. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. We do appreciate that you accepted our offer of an alliance, however.
 * Spain: King Charles is getting a little upset with Europe for not dealing with the spreading of Martin Luther's documents throughout all of Europe. Some of the Spanish citizens, start to listen to Martin Luther's ideas. A new rule is made that anyone that follows Martin Luther's preaching in his documents will be put in jail. Charles gets a little weary that the Ottoman empire is getting bigger, with the additions of Mecca and Medina under their control. The military of the nation expand a little from the year before. More ships are being built for exploration of the new world and Africa. We ask for an alliance with the following nations Genoa, Florence, Kalmar Union, Navarre, Scotland, and the Papal State. Charles ask Portugal that in the near future would it be possible that he could marry the king's daughter Beatrice. 
 * Hispaniola (Colony): On the island, we continue to explore the inland forests. Along the coast of the island port cities are establishing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are being build to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Castile de Ordo (Colony): Our troops expand 50 px to the north, and 50 px to the south. Port cities are being established along the coast. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on land back to our people at home. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farming increases on the land, getting bigger and bigger. Monasteries are being build to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Kingdom of Naples: To the north we close of our borders to everyone. Outpost are being made to the north, so that troops with firearms can attack invaders to the land from a distance. Farming continues to go well in the nation. More ships are being built for trade purposes.
 * Kingdom of Sicily: Farming is doing fine within the nation. More ships are being made for trading purposes.
 * Navarreese Diplomacy (Mod): The alliance is accepted.
 * Spain Dip: We thank the Navarreese.
 * Florentine Diplomacy: We accept your alliance.
 * Scotland Diplomacy: We gladly accept this alliance.
 * Genoaese Diplomacy: We graciously accept the Spanish alliance offer.
 * Kingdom of Georgia: In 1517, the Kingdom of Georgia lay in disarray. The united monarchy and state no longer exist, instead being divided into the feudal petty kingdoms of Kartli, Imereti, Meshketi, and several other minor principalities. In 1513, David X of Kartli conquered his eastern neighbor of Kakheti, bringing it under his suzerainty. In 1517, David X moves his court to Tbilisi and begins stripping the titles of many Kakheti nobles who he suspects will threaten his rule in Kakheti. In response to his dethroning of many counts, many Kakheti aristocrats stage a revolt against David, but it is put down in September after four months of sporadic fighting.Prince Levan, son of the former King of Kakheti, George, is executed for treason. David then turns his sights towards Imereti, Guria, and Meshketi. In Imereti, Bagrat III rules as King, focusing on restoring the capital after a destructive Ottoman raid in 1512. He makes it a crime, punishable by death, to partake in the Ottoman slave trading. Because of this, several nobles are executed, causing strain in the Imereti court. The Georgian Orthodox church is reorganized as well, with Bagrat giving military aid to many looted and distressed churches. In Kartli, David gives royal patronage to several priests and minor patriarchs in order to keep the Orthodox tradition dominant in the region as Ottoman Islam is seen as a threatening force. In diplomatic news, Kartli and Imereti both petition the Ottoman Empire and Persian Shahdom for peace, offering tribute to both countries in return for military access. In other news, the royal military is grown in Kartli and Imereti.
 * The Ottoman Empire increases trade with Georgia, and offers to increase relations give military protection if they help delpoy their military in the recent war with Persia
 * Georgia accepts  only  on the condition that Christianity in Georgia is not threatened by Ottoman missionaries and that the Ottoman Empire respects the Orthodox Church in our country.
 * After some weeks of deliberation, a proclamation directly from the Caliph grants special liberties for the Orthodox Churches of Georgia and the rites conducted therein
 * Moldavia: Bogdan III the One-Eyed agrees become a vassal of the Ottoman Sultan (as per OTL), paying 4000 gold coins yearly, along with 40 horses and 40 falcons, as well as assistance in war. Meanwhile, we continue rebuilding our country from the Tartar incursions that occurred several years ago. The army has about ten thousand men and trains regularly. The călărași (cavalry) and lefegii (heavy infantry) serve as the voivode's elite forces. Bogdan III also begins the process of reorganizing the bureaucracy of the principality to create a more effective government and improve living conditions. We also continue trade with Europeans and Ottomans.
 * The Ottoman Empire accepts Moldavia as a vassal, and sends multiple grand diplomatic envoys consisting of artisans, Imams and soldiers to strengthen the nation and instruct them in the ways of Islam.
 * Ayutthaya: We open up trade with the Portuguese, we offer Portugal to bring us a gunsmith which will show us the techniques of producing European firearms (The Siamese accepted a trade deal with the Portugoese for firearms in 1516). We continue to reinforce our border with more troops and continue to recruit more troops. We send diplomats and merchants to Portuguese Malacca. We continue to build more Buddhist temples throughout the country.
 * Tibet sends diplomats to propose a treaty of allianc. They request that Ayuthaya enforce the Dalai Lama's jurisdiction over Buddhist monks in its borders.
 * Ayuthhayan Diplomacy: We will enforce the jurisdiction over Buddhist monks in our borders. However, we will still use Therevada Buddhism as our main religion. We deny your proposal of an alliance for now.
 * Kabulistan: Babur is currently mid-reformation of his military and administrative systems and is taking time to perfect his army's access to good quality firearms. Envoys have been sent to the various tribal Chieftains of Afghanistan and their loyalty assured in exchange for spots within the Indian raiding expeditions. Spies cross the Hindu Kush into Delhi and the surrounding Indian states, eager to hear of intrigue that their master can exploit. To the West Kabulistan thanks the Ottoman Empire once more for their artillery trade which has facilitated Babur's control over the Afghan Kingdom. Babur accepts the Persian right to the lands of the West and reminds the Persian court of Babur's friendship, and promise of military aid against the northern tribes. To Bukhara, Babur proclaims that his wish to conquer his ancestral homelands is long dead, and instead seeks peace amongst his northern border. An envoy is also sent to the rulers of Bengal with warm greetings from the descendant of Timur and Genghis, and proclaims a wish to see our two peoples united in trade.
 * Bukhara Diplomacy: We accept the enovy and feed them in a fest in our capital,and would like to joint train both of our armies.
 * Republic of Florence: In 1517, Florence remains heavily under de' Medici control. With both Pope Leo X and Lorenzo II being from the Medici family, the two nations remain closely tied with healthy relations. The nation focuses primarily on diplomatic matters, with administrative matters following closely behind. The republic focuses on creating a huge navy to rival other republics in the region and mimic their European trade empires. The republic passes many laws and policies denouncing and attempting to disprove the ninety-five theses. A formal alliance is signed with the Spanish Kingdom.
 * Florentine Diplomacy: After signing a formal alliance with Spain, we request alliances with the nations of Portugal, Navarre, Savoy, Austria, and the Papal States (which we are basically already allied with).
 * Savoyard Secret Diplomacy: We accept the alliance, and hereby merge that with our free trade agreement request.
 * Teutonic Knights: In 1517, Hochmeister Albert von Brandenburg-Ansbach notes that Poland-Lithuania is likely to attack the Teutonic Order, claiming that Prussia is rightfully Polish territory, and he therefore begins construction of watch posts along the border, as well as fortresses near it, and increases Teutonic recruitment and shipbuilding massively, recruiting many Prussian men into the Teutonic army alongside volunteers and recruits from all over Europe and beginning construction of several new warships. By the end of the year, the Teutonic army is approximately forty-five-to-fifty thousand men strong, and the navy about 25 ships, with a strong military focus for the country, with administrative matters being secondary priority. Secretly, the Grand Master also sends a letter via the Teutons' representatives in the Holy Roman Empire to Martin Luther, offering him sanctuary in Prussia should he require it, and publicly the Teutonic Order remains as neutral as possible in regards to the beginning of the Reformation.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutonic Order requests alliance with the other von Hohenzollerns in Brandenburg and the Grand Prince of Muscovy, as well as requesting defensive alliance with the Kalmar Union, Holy Roman Empire and Hungary, and requesting that the Pope try to find a way to send us more Crusaders.
 * Rhode Diplomacy: Grand Master Fabrizio del Carretto publicly denounce the Teutonic Order for remaining neutral in a religious crisis, although they are a religious order who promised loyalty to the Pope and the Christ.
 * Joseon: A series of reforms begin as King Jungjong seeks to establish a self-reliant, powerful Korea capable of defending itself from a hostile China and a unified Japan. Neo-Confucianism, which promotes obedience to the state, is made the official state ideology. In addition to this, the Korean government promotes academic achievement, artistry, and nationalism. The use of Hanja is heavily discouraged and is banned in formal situations. Hangul is declared the sole official script and is used to teach adults how to read and write. The rigid, hereditary, caste-based system known as the bone rank system is abolished to prevent power struggles between the aristocratic elite and the Korean monarchy and to establish equal opportunities for Koreans of different socioeconomic classes. The production of paper bills is restricted to prevent hyperinflation, and external trade is limited to, stop a disastrous outflow of precious metals and an inflow of foreign ideas. The mass-production of gunpowder weapons begins and Korean scientists flirt with the prospect of weaponised fireworks. Compulsory military service is enacted for all able-bodied men (excluding members of the government or nobility).
 * Cherokee: We build hunting trails through out our land to help increase the yield of deer and other fauna we hunt. We raise men from various bands and use them to monitor our lands and stop other tribes from hunting and migrating through. We send scouts to look for more land for us to hunt.
 * Cherokee Diplomacy: We wish for a federation between us and the Chochtaw tribes of Arkansas.
 * Duchy of Ferrara: Duke Alfonso d'Este of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio launches a program to expand the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, as well as the University of Ferrara. The Duke funnels much of the money of the state into the program and into patronizing many Ferraresi and Modenesi artists and writers. Administrative reforms across the realm increase the amount of money the Duchy has to spend towards science and art. The Duke declares himself in opposition to and denounces Luther's Ninety-Five Theses.
 * Ferraresi Diplomacy: The Duke wishes to establish an alliance between the Duchy of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio and Genoa.
 * Genoaese Diplomacy: We accept the Ferraresi alliance offer.
 * Angu: In the early starts of 1517, a man named Koito uses his charisma and diplomatic skills to take leadership over the Hamtai tribe. Being the most populous of all Hamtai tribes, the other Angan tribes are already in awe of the new chief, who is known amongst them as Namton A'fao (literally meaning knowledgeable person). The leadership of the tribal conglomerate then uses emissaries to send out gifts to each clan of the Zia tribe in the lower Waira valley. Using manpower and more organized tactics, the Angan peoples begin to properly unify.
 * Poland-Lithuania begins a process of modernisation and social reform, in an attempt to unite the nations of Poland and Lithuania further. Research begins into new cannons, muskets, and other modern weapons. Merchants are paid handsomely for their efforts. At the same time, work begins in the navy, and an alliance offer is sent to the Nogai Horde, proposing both nations jointly invade Muscovy. Noting how the Teutonic Order has fortified its borders, the King demands what could have promoted such behaviour, while also questioning the treatment of Ethnic Poles and Lithuanians. Trade expands in the Baltic regions, with ships moving up to Denmark and Sweden. An alliance is proposed in secret with Denmark, suggesting the two jointly invade Muscovy, and divide it between themselves. As Poland-Lithuania begins her ascent as a regional power, castles and forts are constructed across both nations.
 * Poland Lithuania right now has zero relations with any hordes and wouldnt ally with a muslim horde period, and Denmark and Poland do not like each other due to some Swedish issues. In fact, right now Muscovy and Poland are probably on better terms than you and Denmark are. -Feud
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: In response to King Sigismund I the Old's demand to know why the Teutons have been building up their border, Hochmeister Albert von Brandenburg-Ansbach sends an emissary to the Polish court at Kraków, with the message that the Teutons are acting upon concerns over possible Polish-Lithuanian aggression, and that if they can prove that they will not attack the Teutonic Order, then their military growth will be slowed to a more reasonable rate.
 * Nogai Horde: After the Ottoman conquest of the Mamluks, we seek to improve relations, although as a horde we are not that concerned, We continue to be driven west by the Kazakhs, with some of our troops entering Astrakhan land. As a horde, we have the military as our primary focus. We also have administration as our secondary focus, for manpower increase. We increase the amount of people in our army, looking west to attack the Astrakhanate.
 * Scotland: With our relations with England in shatters, we perform an attempt to improve relations, hoping to keep peace with them for as long as possible. In case that it fails, we also improve our military. We continue subduing the Highlands, although we improve the situation there, in an attempt to gain more support. We send diplomats to the Papal State, Navarre, Venice and Portugal, requesting an alliance. We reconstruct our naval forces from the ground up.
 * King Henry VIII of England is interested in keeping peace with Scotland. Pursuant of this goal, he offers his daughter Mary in marriage to the five year old King James V of Scotland.
 * Venice Dip: We accept.
 * Rhodes: Grand Master Fabrizio del Carretto begin increasing in mass the the naval fleet of Rhodes, hoping it will help the island keep its independence from the Ottoman. The taxation is also sligthly increase in order to help the island future investements. The Grand Master is willing to negotiate a non-aggression treaty with the Ottomans. 
 * ​The Ottomans accept this non-aggression pact
 * Bavaria: Duke William IV of Bavaria and Duke Louis X of Bavaria find Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses intriguing. However, we remain as neutral as possible in regards to the beginning of the Reformation. Duke William IV legitimizes his only son Georg v. Hegnenberg, due to a sudden change of heart, while also seeking to secure an alliance with some other nation, wanting to seal the alliance with a marriage. We start researching new cannons, muskets and other modern weapons, while also trying to improve gunpowder. Merchants are paid handsomely for their efforts. Both Dukes, fearing an attack by Austria and Bohemia, not knowing their intentions and they therefore start improving the fortifications of cities, towns, castles and villages near the border, builds a few watchposts along the border, as well as fortresses near it, creates a standing, professional army by increasing Bavarian recruitment massively, recruiting many Bavarian men into the Bavarian Army, by the end of the year, the Bavarian army is approximately 50,000 men strong, with an intense military focus for the country, thus administrative matters becoming secondary priority. Meanwhile, the Dukes actively seek to expand their realm.
 * Bavarian Diplomacy: We request alliances with Hungary and Venice, in order to limit Austrian expansion, as well as Poland Lithuania and France.
 * Songhai Empire: We keep working hard on heavy centralisation. We make all of our laws universal across the empire. We install the new system of weights and measure as well as tax inspectors to be sent to all major trading area's to report directly back to the Emperor. We start a construction plan which involves building a large number of irrigation canals. The Emperor orders a general improvement in the military affairs. We send an envoy to the Ottoman Empire asking for aid in improving our army in exchange for salt and gold.
 * ​The Ottomans send artisans, Imams and soldiers to aid the Songhai
 * In Tibet, the last monarch of the Phagmodrupa dynasty, Ngawang Tashi Drakpa, dies, leaving no heir. Local rulers decline to emplace a new king; instead, with the support of Genden Gyatso, head of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism, his advisory council the Kashag, incorporating dozen so major local rulers, assumes full power. Genden Gyatso is left as the effective head of the Tibetan state, ruling almost 3.5 million people. He is in horror at the marginalization of Buddhism in so many neighbouring states, and feels it as his duty to expand Tibetan Buddhism and, by association, the political power of Tibet. Monks are sent out to Buddhist monasteries in neighbouring countries to gain their acceptance of his status as a bodhissatva, or incarnation of the Buddha. Meanwhile, he works to assure the safety of monasteries within Tibet by establishing a military force under the sole control of the central government; he does so by arming monks and recruiting new troops, into a standardized force of around 10,000. Having seen the advantages gained by the Ming using their artillery, he also establishes a corps of artillerists, paying for the casting of several new siege weapons. Government revenues are bolstered by the exploitation of new gold mines near Lhasa; although Gyatso hopes to find new sources of minerals, his monks prove incapable of such exploration. Gyatso founds a school in Lhasa and hires Chinese geologists and scientists to staff it, where monks begin training. He also orders that monastic education should focus more on practical skills. Tibetan diplomats travel to the Chinese court, bearing tribute of gold, caterpillar fungus and monkeys, and reassure the Chinese Emperor of Tibet’s tributary status. Diplomats also travel to Bukhara, Ayutthaya and Bengal, offering trade agreements and requesting tolerance for Buddhists in the two Muslim countries.
 * Navarre: King Henry II begins a process of social reform and modernisation as well as increasing the Navarrese Navy. We also increase taxes marginally to help offset costs of modernisation and the increase of our navy. We propose an alliance with Portugal and France. We also send a trade delegation to England, Portugal, France, and The Ottoman Empire. We begin mining Iron on the Pyrenee Mountains to help improve our armies.
 * Navarrese Diplomacy: We accept the alliance with Scotland.
 * The Ottomans accept trade
 * Sweden: In Sweden many of the nobles begin to resent the rule of the Danish dominated Kalmar Union. Hoping to find a peaceful solution, they begin to meet in the city of Stockholm and call for more autonomy and an end to the preferential treatment that the Danish nobility has in the Union. The nobles also begin to expand their private armies and fortify their lands with Stockholm also begin fortified. Trade across the nation also increases with more and more ships docking in Swedish ports due to an increase in Baltic trade. Finally we begin to slowly expand our borders into the wilds of northern Sweden and Finland.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons request alliance and trade agreements with the Swedes, hoping that they can help each other achieve their goals.
 * Papal States: Pope Leo X closes the 5th Council of Lateran, with hoping the topics that were brought up should be good and enforced. The Papacy starts working among its subjects to bring them closer to God through the Eucharist and the Blood of Christ. Plans to also spread the gospel throughout the Papcy are implemented, with more masses being offered to lowly peasants to help save their lonely souls. Leo X also calls onto those who will honor the Papacy with indulgences, for a small fee. The Papal States get a copy of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses are horrified over the prospect of it. Leo decides to excommunicate Luther immedietly, though his advisers convince him not to, and gives him time to repent on his blastphemy. Pope Leo X accepts alliances with Florence and Spain, citing the fact that France still occupes land in Northern Italy and must be removed and dealt with.
 * Livonian Order Diplomacy: We request Pope Leo X to send us more Crusaders.
 * Papal Diplomacy: Pope Leo X sends a group of five-hundred blessed crusaders to the Livonans.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: We also request that the Pope sends more Crusaders to us.
 * Papal Diplomacy: Pope Leo X sends a group of five-hundred blessed crusaders to the Teutons.
 * Livonian Order Diplomacy: We humbly request the Pope Leo X to grant us the Bishoprics, the Archbishoprics and the city of Riga, inside Terra Mariana, and also crown Landmeister Walter von Plettenberg as King of Terra Mariana, thus enabling him to establish a dynasty, making Terra Mariana a secular state, in order to fight the rising power of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses, promising to preserve catholicism in our nation, while also promising our future support for our most beloved Pope and the Papal States in general in any of his endeavours, also offering an alliance to the Papal States.
 * Papal Diplomacy: Pope Leo X grants all of the demands asked by the Livonan Order and wishes for a stable long-term relationshop.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons also request an alliance with the Pope, now taking sides in the Reformation publicly, siding with the Catholics as expected of them.
 * Genoaese Diplomacy: Doge Ottaviano Fregoso repents of his sins and asks for forgiveness, The Doge also seeks guidance into knowing Christ more. Thus we ask for an alliance with the Papal States.
 * Livonian Order: Landmeister Walter von Plettenberg fears an attack from Poland-Lithuania, due to their increasing power, so he starts construction of watch posts and fortresses along the border and increases army recruitment and shipbuilding immensely, recruiting many German, Livonian and Estonian men into the Livonian Order army, but also volunteers and recruits from all over Europe, but mostly the Holy Roman Empire, while some of them are made knights depending on their skills and starts construction of some new warships. By the end of the year, the Livonian Order army is around 100,000 men strong, and the navy about 40 ships, transforming to a standing, professional army with an intense military focus for the country, thus administrative matters becoming secondary priority. We start researching new cannons, muskets and other modern weapons, while also trying to improve gunpowder. Martin Luther's Evangelical interpretations and rejection of Catholic excesses gains momentum amongst the people of Terra Mariana, while many Livonian order knights and nobles start supporting Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses.  Ostsiedlung/German eastward expansion continues, as we encourage Germans, Dutch, Flemish, Danes, Swedes, Norse to settle in our realm in order to promote the development of the less populated portions of their realm, so we provide them an incentive to immigrate giving them huge privilages. Landmeister Walter von Plettenberg find Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses intriguing. However, we remain as neutral as possible in regards to the beginning of the Reformation, while we also secretly send a letter to Martin Luther, offering him a safeheaven in Terra Mariana if he wants.
 * No way you build up an army that strong, maybe 20,000 tops, your a handful of Baltic duchies not an Empire. -Feud
 * Livonian Order Diplomacy: We request alliance with the Teutonic Order, Hungary, the Kalmar Union, Brandenburg, Moldavia and the Grand Duchy of Muscow, while also request the Pope to send us more Crusaders.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons gladly accept alliance with their former colleagues in the Order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword.
 * Savoy: We begin military buildup and economic expansion. With the recent events occuring worldwide, and with the publication of Luther's  Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, or the Ninety-Five Theses, Charles III decides to ban the publication of the Theses and decide to effectively begin the process of preventing Protestantism from spreading any further into Savoy via more subtle methods. In the meantime, a sculptor from Northern Savoy known as Jeannot Gagne begins one of his first works: the Statue of Venus. Similar in both purpose and nature to the Statue of David, which Michaelangelo created 13 - 15 years ago, he begins the process of scultping the Statue, expecting it to finish before the end of 1519. In the meantime, though, the publication of a new work of literature of the alternate history genre from Southern Savoy, written by Pantaleone Natale, known as  Una Bella Nuovo Mondo , begins to occur and the novel slowly gains popularity among various French-speaking Savoyards. This begins a new age of cultural advancement for Savoy, as Charles III begins to strengthen his power and work on various projects to make the current capital: Chambéry better than it was in the past. This allows our nation to focus on administrative matters first, and then on diplomatic ones as well. We decide to become an innovative nation to accelerate our progress, thanks to the two recent cultural works. 
 * Savoyard Secret Diplomacy: We request an alliance with the Hapsburg nations and Milan, due to the possibility of an attack by France on Savoy itself and as a result, we seek alliances to protect ourselves from a stronger enemy. We also seek trade relations with the nations of Florence, Mantua and the Papal States.
 * Milanese Dip: The want of alliance with you is mutual and the request is accepted by Milan.
 * The Electorate of Saxony is shook to its core by the Ninety-Five Theses of Augustinian monk Martin Luther. Frederick III announces that he will grant Luther sanctuary within his realm and even goes so far to announce that academic freedom will be enshrined at all of the institutions of higher learning with the electorate: the University of Wittenberg, Leipzig University, and Erfurt University. The Saxon people immediately grow to support Luther's Evangelical interpretations and rejection of Catholic excesses. While Frederick is lenient toward the new development, Duke of Saxony George the Bearded attempts to crack down upon the Evangelical movement, threatening Luther's arrest. Frederick then sends his men to aid the peasants of the Duchy in deposing George of the Albertine line and reinstating unity in Saxony. Lucas Cranach, a Saxon polymath, opens an apothecary in Wittenberg, begins to paint Martin Luther at the request of Frederick's brother and heir, John, and orders his printing presses to publish hundreds of copies of the Ninety-Five Theses.
 * ​ Saxon Diplomacy: Saxony seeks an alliance with Hesse, Würzburg, Brunswick-Göttingen, (mods request) and Brandenburg.
 * Hesse and Würzburg accept, Brunswick-Göttingen rejects. -Sat (Talk to me!)
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutonic Order requests defensive alliance and trade with the Saxons, hoping to protect against Poland-Lithuania.
 * Sultanate of Delhi: Economy, infrastructure and military improve. Population continues to grow very fast. More residential buildings, cultural and public buildings, commercial buildings and mining plants are built. Roads and farms are built or improved and cities continue to grow. Education is improved and more educational buildings are built. Asks Bengal, Gujarat, Gajapatis and Tibet for alliance and trade agreement. While currently as a Muslim kingdom, the Delhi sultan Ibrahim Lodi, who raised to become the new sultan after death of Sikandar Lodi, decided to write and activated a new law. The new law should all Hindus living in the sultanate are free to maintain their own religion Hinduism and they don't convert to Islam anymore. A very few Indian Muslims now reconverted to Hinduism because it's planning to become Delhi a Hindu nation in just 50 years.
 * Tibet offers a trade agreement and requests tolerance be extended to Buddhists.
 * Sultanate of Bengal: The Sultanate of Bengal is neither carefree or tense. While our great sultan has established a new age of gold, he has grown old and sick. His son must take the reigns of the nation. Due to this, Bengal is unable to expand into Central India. A devout Muslim, the Sultan's son forcefully converts Hindus to Muslims, arresting top brahmins. This of course, creates unrest and dissent in the general population and Hindus begin to grow decadent. Fortuneately, we seek alliances, and accept the Sultan of Delhi's offer. The state adopts an attitude of administration and diplomacy second, since the state would not do well in any attempt to expand. We continue tenous trade relationships with the Portuguese, from which had been established two decades ago with the arrival of Vasco de Gama.
 * Tibet offers alliance and requests that tacit tolerance be offered to Buddhiata; in return, it will give access to Himalayan passes and the Dalai Lama will order Bengali Buddhists to support the Sultan's rule.
 * Kingdom of Hungary: The Kingdom of Hungary is celebrating its one year anniversary of the new ruler of Louis II of the Jagiellon Dynasty. In attempts to focus in on uniting our Kingdom, after the events of the Diet of 1514, the Kingdom of Hungary focuses in on its administration to help prevent further uprisings within the century. With one of the largest standing armies in Europe, with 150,000 armed soldiers in the borders, the Hungarians put the military maintenance on the secondary tier to maintain but improve the army just slightly. With the Ottomans to the South of their borders, the Hungarians begin putting out diplomatic invites to improve relations or open trade further with other nations.
 * Terra Mariana Diplomacy:We wish to trade with the Kingdom of Hungary, while also seeking an alliance with them.
 * Poland-Lithuania: Seeks an alliance and a trade agreement.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: We also seek trade and alliance with the King of Hungary, hoping to assist those who are on the front near the Ottoman Empire.
 * The Ottoman Empire asks for a seven year truce with Hungary.
 * Ethiopia: Begins small scale recruitment of young men in Ethiopia and expands into modern-day Eritrea, building trading posts in existing villages of the newly acquired territory to spread the Ethiopian culture and Islam . For future trade, Ethiopia begins building of a new port city near modern day Port Sudan, named Mina' Alaizdihar (Port of Prosperity), and is expected to be finished in 1546. Ethiopia proposes trade agreements with the Songhai Empire and the Ottoman Empire and proposes an alliance with The Ottoman Empire. 
 * Songhai Empire: We agree to trade with Ethiopia.
 * The Ottoman Empire sends a small military expedition to facillitate this alliance
 * Ethiopia is Christian and extremely skeptical of Muslims, considering the constant wars with them. Sorry, but no spreading Islam or allying with a self-proclaimed Caliphate. -Dax
 * The Kingdom of England is great. By virtue of our greatness, King Henry VIII continues to pursue his goal of peace among the Christian nations. In accordance with his goals for peace, King Henry offers his daughter Mary to the child King James V of Scotland. Meanwhile, the court is troubled by rumors of potential rebellion in Ireland and begins preparing to deal with it. The King vows to support the Pope in the face of these German heretics. Near the end of the year, Queen Catherine becomes pregnant.
 * Scottish Diplomat: We gladly agree to the marriage between James V and Mary.
 * The Lowlands: The governor of the Lowlands, Margaret of the House Habsburg, notices Luther's theses, but doesn't pay much acttention to them. The Dutch people, however, feel differently about the theses and they are generally supportive of Luther. They don't act on them, however. The Lowlands focus on diplomatic technology, offering trade to all its neighbours and beginning the expansion of the navy. 
 * Bradenburg: Elector Joachim I Nestor passes away in a hunting accident leaving Bradenburg to his underage son Joachim II Hector von Hohenzollern. With the young boy only 12 a regency is established with members of the nobility, his mother, and to the surprise of many the reformist Josel von Rosheim a sympathizer to Martin's thesis and an advocate for the German and Polish Jews living within the HRE. Joachim's formal education is speed up to prepare him for his duties. Changes in military tactics begin to occur after news of the efficiency of the Hapsburg Tercios reach the ears of the new regency. more firearms are produced to try and replcate this effect leading to a small increase in certain areas of production (military as primary focus). Certain italian and southern european ideas and artistic movements interest members of the nobility and these select nobles become patrons of Italian and German artists (administrative as secondary). Seeing the rising power of Poland the regency look to strengthen ties with their neighbors accepting Saxony's offer of alliance, and seeking closer ties with the Teutonic Order, as well as Hungary and Bohemia.. Efforts to improve productivity of crops also starts.


 * Terra Mariana Diplomacy: We wish to trade with the Margraviate of Brandenburg, while also seeking an alliance with them, in order to limit Polish-Lithuanian expansion at our expense.
 * Bradenburg Dip: The regency agrees.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons request alliance with Brandenburg, as well as trade, hoping to strengthen relations with the Brandenburgers just as the Brandenburgers wish to with them.
 * Duchy of Milan: The populace of Milan, horrified by the recent publication of The 95 Theses and in face of the recent French domination in the region turn to their Italian values and traditions. Fear of foreign exploitation of the area for economic purposes grows and the people's hunger for revenge on Venice after the Battle of Marignano in 1515 leads to supporters of the deposed duke Maximilian Sforza to begin negotiations with the Papal States with plans to place Sforza back on the Ducal of Milan, in order to place Italian interests back into Northern Italy through a strong Milan. Alliances are requested with The Papal States, England, Spain, Genoa and Austria
 * Spain Dip: We accept the alliance you offer.
 * Republic of Genoa: It’s time to face the truth, our zenith has been reached long ago and thus are now past our prime, for we have been in a state of decline for many years, losing our trade and economic power to our mercantile rival, Venice and losing our colonial ports to the Ottomans. I am convinced, however, that with the publication of Luther’s 95 Theses, a new era in human history is upon us, and it is up to us how to we wish to respond to this rekindling of human fervor, and our actions today will determine our future, and I, Ottaviano Fregoso, intend to go on the path of success. Before Luther’s publication, I gave little thought of God or Jesus Christ, for I was chiefly concerned with political and economic matters, but after hearing so much of the Lord’s nature in daily conversation in Genoa I couldn’t help but study the Bible, not in the interest of learning about Him but for social means. Once I read it, however, the New Testament captivated my heart. How opposite was I to Jesus! I was primarily concerned for my own selfish ends, and I pounced upon the opportunity to destroy my enemies to advance up the social ladder. Jesus, however, gave mercy and love to all, even the most wretched of people who I looked down upon. I recieved an epiphany, that I, myself, am a sinner. I humbled myself before God and repented of all my sins, and I advise that everyone do the same and adopt the teachings of Jesus. I soon received a vision of great fleets ships sailing out of the most magnificent ports spreading the wealth to all of Christendom, and the ships had the flag of Genoa. It was then that I knew we should spread wealth to all nations for the benefit of humanity and for the glory of God. After leaving the ports, the Genoese ships went to foreign lands and spread the Gospel to all the world, which essentially is loving God and loving others. Thus I, Doge Ottaviano Fregoso, decree, we shall end factionalized fighting between feuding families and the Doge and the Bank of St. George shall have central power, with the Doge controlling the Bank, and united in love, we shall build the best ships and shall sail the most profitable trade routes and spread our wealth to every port on Earth, sharing the Gospel of Christ. For this reason, I choose the Diplomatic primary focus and the Administrative secondary focus with our national idea being trade. We request trade agreements with France and the Ottoman Empire. We request an alliance with the Papal States and I, Doge Ottaviano Fregoso, seek forgiveness for my sins. Hearing news of Benin’s request to convert to Catholicism, we send Genoan ships with Papal ships to make contact with Benin.
 * Persia: (sorry for short turn today, promise big turn one tomorrow). We build our military. We accept the alliances of Kabulistan and Oman, we also accept any other nations who are willing to be our allies. We offer an alliance to the Ottoman Empire. .


 * Your two nations hated each other, Persia actively courted Muscovy and vice versa for deaces due to issues between persia and the Ottomans. -Feud
 * Grand Principality of Muscovy: With the continuing advancement of the Principality, Vasili III Ivanovich begins to work on his state administratively focusing Primarily on Administration, while following up with a more Secondary focus on his Military. The more administrative focus allows for the more efficient and managed production allowing for a more accurate ability to tax, and squeeze manpower out of the nation. With a population of just over eight million, The Grand Principality seeks more land particularly to the East. With much land in the East Open, and a shift in policy by many nobles, some fortune seekers or those i need of changing their life, begin to trek east stopping off in the Urals in the former principality of Perm before setting off onto the other side of the Urals facilitating a 100 px expansion east. Grand Prince Vasili while knowing the strength of his state, makes a dedicated attempt at further consolidating his fathers gains in the Rus, and in a show of good faith, allows the assimilation of a few of Novgorods former trade families into the Aristocratic framework of Muscovy, using this to consolidate Kasimov, Perm, Tver, and Pskov into a new branch of the Musocvite governance. While the Grand Prince still retains a good amount of power, Vasili wanted to have more meaningful contribution from his internal allies and friends gives them a stake in the state, and hence more impetus to provide troops for incentives of payout, prestige and other reasons. The Creation of the Noble Duma, headed by Grand Prince Vasili does facilitate some faith and trust with the Prince and his many nobles. in exchange for some privaleges Vasili is able to bring about nearly 200,000 men to bear at any given moment, having gained some preferential access to many personal retinues and troops of the many nobles, as well as the powerful Novgorod Garrisons, which had been somewhat dismantled by the previous conquest. Muscovy in general seeing more and more eastern opportunity begins to raise an army to number upwards of 100,000 all of which will remain in their home assembly areas for the time being,  to begin striking out east against the Kazani, and Nogai hordes. He makes this a long term goal while also simultaneously beginning to promote the settlement of new territories, particularly Kasimov with Ethnic Russians. The Grand Prince reaffirms the treaty of freindship and cooperation with the Teutonic Order, and also begins to send out diplomats to Brandenburg. 
 * ' ​' Ryazan: The small p rincipality of Ryazan with only a few hundred thousand continues to see more accession to Russian policy and ideas, but maintains a small garrison force of 20,000 with which to provide manpower for the Muscovite forces if needed. The Ryazani ruler begins to consider the tempting offer of annexation to Muscovy. Ryanzan builds up its southern defenses in order to make attacking southern Muscovy impossible without taking said forts.
 * Wasn't Ryazan not annexed until 1520? -Nate
 * Terra Mariana Diplomacy: We wish to trade with the Grand Principality of Muscovy, while also seeking an alliance with them, in order to limit Polish-Lithuanian expansion at our expense, seeking to establish a coalition against Poland-Lithuania, having already allied with the Teutonic Order and Margraviate of Brandenburg.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons are very grateful for the Muscovites' continuing to honor their treaties, and promise to hold up their halves of the treaties as well.
 * Ming Dynasty: Seeing that the Joseon is trying to build up, we increase patrols around the Chinese-Joseon border. We maintain relations with Tibet, promising them continued independence and official recognition in return for entering the tributary system. Chinese officials are open to negotiations, but Tibetan officials must go to Nanjing to be able to hold meetings. Troops begin surveying Jurchen-majority areas of Manchuria. We also keep internal affairs in check.
 * Continuing the tradition of the Silk Road, the Ottoman envoy Arpad as-Saghir travels to the Ming court asking to establish trade
 * Bukhara Dip: We would like to trade with you.
 * Hafsid Tunisia: We begin noticing the commercial decline of the sultanate and seek forward to trading with neighbouring nations, we ask the Spanish, Napolitans, French and Ottomans for a trade agreement and we also ask the Ottomans for an alliance (The sultan being suspicious about a possibility of an invasion by Spanish), The sultan orders the creation of several fortifications specially in tunis, constantina and several coastal cities, the ruins of carthage are fortified and used as military training outpost for any possible future incursion in the region. Military build up begins by conscripting several young man in the most populated cities and initiating them in military training, several ships are built in the main ports of the sultanate, economy is built up.
 * Venice Dip: We request a trade alliance.
 * Hafsid Dip: We graciously accept your trading alliance offer and seek forward to it
 * Sultan Selim makes an agreement with the Hafsid to respect their nation and enterprises as long as he lives, and also asks permission to harbor ships in Tunis as a station in the western Mediteranean.
 * Hafsid Dip: We thank the Ottoman sultan for his choice and plea allegiance to this alliance for as long as he lives, and we agree on allowing Ottoman ships in tunis to patrol the western Mediterranean
 * Siena: We begin to build military. Asks for an alliance with Florence, Venice and the Papal State. Start ship building plan. We also ask Spain, Florence, Venice and The Papal States for Trade Agreements. Finally, out leader Cardinal Raffaello Petrucci calls Martin Luther a heretic.
 * Papal Diplomacy: Leo X accepts.
 * Venice:Venice improves trade by commissioning more ships through the Mediterranean. To facilitate this, more naval ships are built up to protect trade networks. Modena is improved with many public works projects to freshen up the city. More diplomats are sent to the Vatican in an attempt to normalize relationships between the two countries. More Venetians begin to move out of the city and onto overseas colonies.
 * France: Military buildup, road built, etc etc.
 * Ottoman Empire:  Economy and military improves in the Turkish Empire, with a total population of 12 million. Mercentaile trade and caravan travelers transverse across the empire, as well as exporting and importing many commodities to many distant lands. Trade networks across the Sahara is set up with Songhai, Ethiopia, and Bornu. Up across the Caucasus mountains, overland trade pours in from the Turko-Mongol Khanates as far as Bukhara. Among these travelers, an imperial envoy led by  Pasha Arpad as-Saghir strengthens relationships with the northern Khanates of Astrakhan, Kazan, Nogai, and Sibir. Arpad then continues on to meet with the imperial court of the Ming Dynasty.  The navy is greatly stengthened, building on the impressive navy of Bayezid II years earlier. An expedition led by  Admiral Piri Reis is sent out the Red Sea and around the Indian Ocean, establishing trad relations with Oman, Aceh, and Johore.  Admirals Aydin Reis and Iskandar Asha command the two main navies operating in easern Mediterranean near Syria. Scouting operations on the fortifications of Kyrenia report daily. The navies of Oruc Reis and Hayreddin Barbarossa are stationed further west, protecting the Ottoman posessions in Algeria and Tunisia. Two additional fleets remain in ports in the Aegean Sea. After crushing the armies of the Mamlukes at Cairo, and executing Turhan Bey, the Abbassid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil claimed the title of Sultan for himself, and gathered support of rival Arab rulers from Hejaz, Jordan, Philistia, and Syria, who gathered their armies at Gaze against Selim I. Selim's army, however, vanquished this rebellion, scattering their armies and causing Al-Mutawakkil to fall on his own sword. He was succeeded to the Holy Office by his cousin, Al-Mustamsik, who surrdered all temporal claims and offered the sword and seal of the Prophet to Selim. Selim, however, seeing the great support given to the Abbassids, decided instead to allow Al-Mustamsik to live, and share the sacred relics of the Prophet. And so there remained two Caliphs, one in Istanbul, and one in Medina. Selim's army of 50,000 men remain stationed in Cairo.  Meanwhile, the armies of Pri Mehmed Pasha and Hasan Pasha continue to make war against the Persians. After the crushing victory at Chaldarin, Hasan pushes on with his advantage by invading the region of Azerbaijan with 70,000 men, while Mehmed gathers his force of 60,000 at Mosul and pushes south towards the city of Babil, and ultimately Bosra.  The forts and fortifications in eastern Europe are continuously improved to deter invasion from Hungary. A system of education for the youth of Anatolia is founded by the nobles of Istanbul.


 * Colony of Algeirs: Governed by Aruj Barbarossa, Algiers improves its infrastructure and increases trade across the Sahara, as well as with the European nations of France and Navarre. The military stands at 12,000, with an additional 7000 on loan from the Sultan.
 * Khanate of Crimea: Ruled by Mehmed Giray, the Khanate strengthens relations with the Khanates of Astrakhan, Nogai, Kazan, and even Sibir, thanks to the expedition of Arpad. Fortifications are built up to protect them from Muscovy
 * An Ottoman Diplomacy asks the Kingdom of Hungary to a temporary truce, establishing non-aggression for seven years
 * Swiss Confederacy: The teachings of Martin Luther are almost immediately rebuked by all lieus of the Swiss Confederacy, who denounce his teachings as heretical. Later that year. However, Schwyz, Glarus, and Uri declare that there is at least some credit to his teachings and retract their denouncement. The economy of the Swiss Confederacy, already fabled in the southern Holy Roman Empire, sees a massive spike after trade deals with neighboring states bring gold into the coffers of the Swiss Confederacy. A new cathedral in Zürich is planned. Tentatively named the Grossmünster, this church will be a testament to the piety of the lieu of Switzerland. The Vorort of 1517 is held in Bern this year. Among the issues are the economy of the Swiss Confederacy and its foreign policy. Other lieus in the Swiss Confederacy expand their militaries this year.

1518
'''A strange case of dancing fever hits Alsace, which leads to the death of about four-hundred peasants. Local nobles conclude that the outbreak was caused by bad blood, with some help from physicians.'''

'''A plague of tropical fire ants devastates crops on Hispaniola. The colonial governor seeks financial aid from their Spanish overlords to help replant the crops.'''

'''Spanish traders go to several coastal African kingdoms, where they ask if they could trade slaves and prisoners for technology. They intend to create a system of trade called “Triangle Trade” (Yeah I know, stupid name) in order to transport goods in a planned, efficient way.'''

'Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses'' continues to spread and gain popularity throughout Europe, mainly in the Northern Holy Roman Empire. Luther starts preaching his work in and around Wittenberg, hoping to spread his ideas and to gain some kind of traction against the Roman Catholic Church.'''

'''Christian II, monarch of the Kalmar Union, suddenly falls ill after the new year. The throne mourns their loss. The Kalmar Union hopes to quickly find a successor before everyone starts to get out of hand.'''


 * ' Brunswick-Lüneburg: Heinrich V of Bruswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, after heavy thought, decides to embrace Martin Luthers ideas, and support the Reformation. But, he takes a more reconcillary tone than other converts, suggesting that the church can be reunited if Luthers ideas are taken seriously by the Pope.  Heinrich V reaches out to Hamburg, Saxe-Lauenburg, and Lübeck, looking to establish trade relations and alliances with them.
 * Hamburg and Saxe-Lauenburg accept alliances, Lübeck accepts trade. Sat (Talk to me!)

their home assembly areas for the time being,  to begin striking out  east against the Kazani, and Nogai hordes". Muscovy is clearly striking out against me. Also, what I meant was the Ottoman suggestion of an alliance of Hordes, in the Kievan Horde, not an alliance with me and the Ottomans. If you have a problem with that, please see the Kievan Horde page. - Super
 * France: A new, unpopular tax is implemented to help raise money for better equipment for soldiers, while troop wages increase to try to get more people to fight. A new trade agreement is reached between France and Siena.
 * The Ottoman Empire extends a purely military alliance with France, hoping to curb the growth of the Hapsburg Empire
 * Milanese Dip: Diplomats from the Duchy of Milan have traveled to France to negotiate the release of Maximilian Sforza for a sum of 35,000 ducats. This would include France revoking their claim to the Duchy of Milan.
 * Kabulistan: Padshah Babur with assurances from the Persian and Bukharan rulers focuses his eye on the lands beyond the Hindu Kush. Delhi, despite her strength is not the only realm in the sub-continent with which Babur has plans. A decade of planning is coming to a close and Babur shifts away from the Kush and focues on Seistan and the Baluchi Tribes. Militaristic by heritage yet yearning for an administrative core, Babur continues his preparations for expansion of his now bustling Empire with many displaced warriors rallying to his banner. Kabul continues to send spies into Delhi and the lower Indian states, many report of dynastic issues and unrest amongst the Indian nobility. Babur disappointed at the Sistain refusal prepares to take the region by force, the army, in preparation for most of the decade begin to rally at the southern border.
 * Kabulistani Diplomacy: Kabul with the backing of his tribal Chieftains sends word to the leading Seistan (NPC) chieftains offering them a prominent amongst the raiding parties across the Hindu Kush if they will submit to Babur as their ancestors submitted to Genghis' kin. Kabul encourages the Saka to ride with him for glory into the lucrative Indian heartlands. Kabul, assuming their envoy wasen route after a year of silence reaches out once more to Bengal in hopes of an amicable trade agreement between the two Silk Road realms.
 * Sistan Cheiftains (RNG) decline the offer to go raiding across the Himalayas.
 * Tibet's religious authority is reaffirmed as Genden Gyatso's emissaries reach dozens of monasteries in neighbouring countries, from Mongolia to Ayuthaya to Ava. It is challenged in Tibet, as a small dissident sect fortifies a monastery and refuses to accept his new doctrine of practical and religious education. Gyatso uses his new artillery train to bombard it into submission, which takes only two days, although several guns burst. Several newly trained monks cast new ones out of bronze, which proves more resilient. Increased funding for the arsenal in Lhasa enables it to expand its production of cannon and begin producing rockets and smaller, one person "hand cannons" as well. Elsewhere, his doctrine is accepted, even eagerly, and monks begin learning such valuable skills as geology, engineering, languages, and chemistry. The most intelligent are sent to the Lhasa monastery to study under hired foreigners, although many graduate to teachers and are returned to the monasteries to teach in turn. Monks are sent North to push the frontiers of Buddhism by founding a monastery among the Buryats near Lake Baikal. These monks report back speaking of the Buryats gliding over the snow on pieces of wood; replicas are made, and prove highly effective for winter movement in Tibet; these are widely disseminated, especially to the military. Potatoes spread into Tibet, reducing winter hunger. In the south, disturbing reports of the King of Ava not accepting Gyatso's jurisdiction spread. In response, four Kachin and Chin chieftains from northern Ava are admitted to the Tibetan Kashag counci and promised tacit Tibetan support for their efforts to reduce Ava's influence. Roads are built linking Tibet to their lands in northern Ava, and garrisons are placed in these areas to give Tibet a foothold in the Irrawaddy valley. Tibet offers alliance to  Bengal and the Shan states (Mod response), and offers trade to Kabulistan.
 * The Western Shan State accepts and the Eastern one declines (RNG).
 * Bengal Dip: We accept the Alliance.
 * Nogai Horde: Following the Kazakhs attacks on us(IOTL), we retreat to the west. Civil unrest begins to occur following the beginning of this new migration westwards, but we expect it to be short lived. Looking for a way to defend ourselves better against attakers, we accept the invitation to the Kievan Horde, suggested by the Crimean Horde. We look to the Moscovians military technology, more advanced than ours, and attempt to replicate it, to provide more effective resistance. We begin to look for allies to help defend us against Nogai enemies
 * Bukara Dip: We send a military envoy of 5000 to help your nation against the Kazakhs and the Moscovian in return we would like you help us fight Persia.
 * I dont border you, and you dont really have contact as far as the Ottomans, you're a horde. -Feud
 * Here is a quote from the Grand Principilaity of Muscovys last post(1517): " Muscovy in general seeing more and more eastern opportunity begins to raise an army to number upwards of 100,000 all of which will remain in
 * Thank you for clarifying in chat. I shall edit the part of my post about being invaded.


 * Rhodes: Fabri zio del Carretto, the Grand Master of the Orde of the Knights Hospitalier, died in February. Philippe de Villiers de l'Isle-Adam was chose to succeed to him as the 44th Grand Master. His main priority is to continue the creation of a better fleet, just like his predecessor. He also invest some of his ressources to upgrade the military technology of the Order. De Villiers follow the exemple of both Livonian and Teutonic Orders and declare itself to be neutral in the religious crisis. He also allow the thesis of Martin Luther to be published on the island, although he does not officially support them. De Villiers try to offer an alliance with the other Orders.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons accept the alliance of Hospitallers gladly, hoping for more unity between Crusaders.
 * Ostland Diplomacy: We wish to let know the Knight Hospitallers, that we are not an order any more, we have reformed to a kingdom, with the blessings of the Pope Leo X, while we do wish for an alliance.
 * Bukhara: We begin to work on urbanize Bukhara by have spending artiest and other important people to the city.Men between 18- 37 are forced into the army and are trained for war. We begin to mobilize our armies using mongol horse back and turkish battle tactics pushing into Persia (of 20,000) aiming for the cities of Merv,Nishabur, and Herat killing and slaying enemies on horse back or using huge human wave attacks for anyone opposing us,where their heads are chopped off and placed in one mass grave, with Kochkunju Muhammad bin Abul-Khayr Khan leading his men. We begin to amass troops at Kabul border telling them we don't want to attack them but we are ready to defend our nation.Children 13 -18 are thought how to fight for the nation and ones with a bright future are brought to better military schools to be train as Shock troops for four more years.
 * Kabulistani Diplomacy: The Great Babur, Padshah of the Timurids reminds the Bukharans of their defeat by the Persians not ten years prior, and warns them not to be overly ambitious. Kabul demands that Bukharan troops remove themselves from the borders of Kabul, and until they do so, Kabul’s armies will mobilize towards the North-Eastern front.
 * Bukhara dip: We don't want to fight Kabulistani and will pull out troops back if Kabulistani does't attack us.
 * Via chat Bukhara and Kabulistani agree to demilitarize our borders. In return, they both won't attack each other,and Bukhara will stay out of southern Persia (Sistan and balochistan).
 * Bukhara dip: We tell our troops about this and slowly pull our troops back,And our troops in Persia to keep out of the area. (but if the enemy uses it as an attacking point we will move in to destroy the enemies then leave without attacking any civilians)


 * Benin: Oba Esigie moves to tackle the issue of the poor transportation system in his kingdom. Corresponding with his diplomat in Lisbon, Esigie resolves to build a devoted transportation network throughout Benin, connecting all of the major cities and towns to his capital in Edo. Esigie expands the resources given to the specialized Igunematon ironsmith guild, to make the foundries they run larger and more productive, seeking to expand the number of weapons and goods produced by them for the nation. He establishes the hereditary title of Obazuaye for the Igun N’Eyaen-Nugie quarter of Edo, and assigns to the new Obazuaye the job of producing firearms for the royal regiments of Benin per the standards of the European nations. With a fully independent and self-sufficient industrial base, Oba Esigie seeks to expand the capabilities of his military further. With all major smithies in Edo under state control, Esigie seeks to produce standardized equipment for his warriors as well. As a result of his and the royal court's conversion to Christianity, the belief begins to make headway into the lives of the people as their chiefs between to spread the word of Christ to the local population. Their efforts are expanded by the work of the Portuguese missionaries in Benin, as well as the official backing of Oba Esigie, who has taken it upon himself to promulgate the belief throughout his lands. Esigie takes up an ecclesiastical learning from one of the missionaries in his capital, seeking to learn all there is to know about Christianity and Christian doctrines. Looking to attract more trade to his lands, Esigie orders the construction of a port in Onim (Lagos), and steers further trade with Benin to that city. Additionally, Oba Esigie sanctions the trading slaves taken in combat from the neighboring lands to the Europeans seeking them. Esigie is keen, however, to outlaw the selling of Benin subjects, and institutes harsh laws against those who would sell fellow subjects of Benin. Looking to expand the ability of Benin to trade with Europe, Esigie actively begins to look for ships to purchase from Europe, looking to Spain and Portugal for them. Also, to develop the abilities of Benin as a state, he sends hundreds of nobles to Europe to learn from the best scholars in Europe, directing them to learn at schools of navigator, trade, art, science, warfare, and architecture. Oba Esigie declares that Benin shall be European, and instructs the lords under his control to learn from the example of Europe and the nations within. To further legitimize his empire in the eyes of Europe, Esigie takes on the Christian name of Xadreque I of Benin at his baptism, and decrees that all future documents recording his reign shall be required to use his new Christian name. With the development of Benin's arsenal, Benin expands by 150 px into the east, capturing thousands of prisoners, and transporting them across the newly built roads of Benin to the growing port city of Onim. Benin welcomes the Genoese and Papal vessels in Onim, showing gifts and servants upon the visitors as a sign of Benin's friendship with its new brothers in the faith. Xadreque instructs his diplomat in Lisbon to approach the Portuguese for the sell of five ships, and instructors to train Benin warriors in sailing them.
 * ​Portugal accepts the deal and asks for slaves in return. The King sends renowned Lisbon shipwrights and navigators with the five decommissioned warships to help teach the Beninese some ancient Portuguese techniques to promote good faith between the nations.
 * Benin Response: The Oba of Benin gladly accepts the deal offered by Portugal. We shall supply captives from the conquests of Benin in exchange for the expertise provided by the Portuguese in shipbuilding and navigation, as well as the five requested vessels provided to Benin from Portugal. We accept of all these in good faith from the King of Portugal to the Oba of Benin.
 * Württemberg: Duke Ulrich takes a great personal interest in Lutheran's Theses, and declares his support for it. He orders copies of the theses to be printed and distributed across the realm. Meanwhile, it is announced that the Duchess, Sabina of Bavaria, is now pregnant.
 * England: Queen Catherine gives birth to a healthy daughter who is named Elizabeth. We accept Milan's offer from the previous year. King Henry invites the leaders of all the great Christian nations to London to discuss peace between them. (See OTL Treaty of London for reference.) The date for the wedding of James and Mary is set to be in 1532. More later.
 * The heir to the Electorate of Saxony, John, is sent to London to negotiate in London, as Prince-Elector Frederick III is busy in the Empire.
 * Republic of Florence: In 1518, Florence remains heavily under de' Medici control. With both Pope Leo X and Lorenzo II being from the Medici family, the two nations remain closely tied with healthy relations. The nation focuses primarily on diplomatic matters, with administrative matters following closely behind. The republic focuses on creating a huge navy to rival other republics in the region and mimic their European trade empires. The republic continues to pass many laws and policies denouncing and attempting to disprove the ninety-five theses. Florence spends a ton of money buying lumber to update their navy, and begins to mass produce merchant ships. Diplomatically, Florence signs a formal alliance with Savoy. To also further cement the Spanish-Florentinian Alliance, the bachelor ruler at twenty-five years old, Lord Lorenzo II de' Medici is married to the Spanish King's twenty year old sister, Eleanor of Austria. An extravagant wedding ceremony is held where many Medicis, Habsburgs, and Lorenzo's uncle Pope Leo X attend. Lorenzo's ten year old illegitimate "son" remains not legitimized. An alliance is accepted with Venice and Siena. We start an exclusive deal with Switzerland to supply us with tons of shipbuilding lumber. We also start buying Venetian produced ships.
 * Florentine Diplomacy: Lord Lorenzo II de' Medici offers alliances to the nations of Portugal and Austria.
 * Ottoman Empire: Economy and military improves in the Turkish Empire, with a total population of 12 million. Mercantile trade and caravan travelers transverse across the empire, as well as exporting and importing many commodities to many distant lands. Trade networks across the Sahara is set up with Songhai, Ethiopia and Bornu. Up across the Caucasus mountains, overland trade pours in from the Turko-Mongol Khanates as far as Bukhara. Among these travelers, an imperial envoy led by Pasha Arpad as-Saghir strengthens relationships with the northern Khanates of Astrakhan, Kazan, Nogai, and Sibir. Arpad then continues on to meet with the imperial court of the Ming Dynasty.The navy is greatly stengthened, building on the impressive navy of Bayezid II years earlier. The Expedition of Admiral Piri Reis establishes trade with Aceh and Johore, then continues on to open diplomacy with Demak and Ceylon. He asks the Mulsim Sultanates of these places not to trade with the Portuguese, as they are not to be trusted. Admirals Aydin Reis and Iskandar Asha command the two main navies operating in easern Mediterranean near Syria. Scouting operations on the fortifications of Kyrenia report daily. The navies of Oruc Reis and Hayreddin Barbarossa are stationed further west, protecting the Ottoman possessions in Algeria and Tunisia. Two additional fleets remain in ports in the Aegean Sea. Meanwhile, the 70,000 troops (including 20,000 Sipahi Cavalry and 800 Jannisaries) of Mehmed continue to invade Persia through Azerbejian, while Hasan's army of 60,000 (including 5000 Sipahi, 500 Jannisaries, and five mortars) occupies Babil, then pushes on to lay seige to Bosra, pushing towards the coast. A proclamation is issued by Caliph Selim, stating "Let no man raise a finger to the aid of Ismail Safavid, lest it be cut off. For he has gone for the ways of the Rejectors, disregarding the words of the Holy Prophet". The end goal of this campaign is to annex all of Mesopotamia as far as the Zaragos Mountains. The forts and fortifications in eastern Europe are continuously improved to deter invasion from Hungary. A system of universal education continues to expand across Anatolia, teaching young men the latest knowledge of science, mathematics, and literature.
 * You cant expand relations with so many people that are that far away, the Ottomans main concerns are elsewhere particularly north africa, not messing around with the worthless eastern Hordes. I cant even see a legit way to increase relations with Nogai, and Sibir effectively. -Feud
 * The Ottomans had diplomacy with Kazan as early as 1496, and all of these hordes (including the Crimean Khanate) hold the heritage of being successor states of the Golden Horde. 
 * Kazan, Nogai, and Sibir are valid targets. Nate gets to decide where his focus is (within reason). Furthermore, Crimea recently entered into the Kievan Horde agreement with those three nations. -Rex
 * Colony of Algiers: Governed by Aruj Barbarossa, Algiers improves its infrastructure and increases trade across the Sahara, as well as with the European nations of France and Navarre. The military stands at 12,000, with an additional 7000 on loan from the Sultan.
 * Khanate of Crimea: Ruled by Mehmed Giray, the Khanate continues to increase its overland trade. Fortifications are built up to protect them from Muscovy. The port of Sevastapol is built up to create an independent navy. Seeing the attacks by Muscovy nearby, the Khanate issues an invitation to the hordes of Khazan, Nogai, Astrakhan, and Sibir to meet together and discuss their opinions and collaborations in the city of Kiev, known unofficially as the Kievan Horde .
 * Oman: Oman continues military expansion and manages to secure trade with distant coasts, with the navy now counting 23 ships, and a heavy flag ship and galley to be done by next year. However, the nation's small population is beginning to have real issues maintaining its military, so slave raids being along the Somali and Indian coasts, as well as in Yemen, killing those who won't convert to Ibadi Islam and keeping the converts as slaves. These slaves will be maintain most of the boats and make up 15% of the army, with intentional segregation between race and religion to hinder organization. Excess slave raids are also conducted to be sold to the Ottomans and Persians. The camel-cavalry is also greatly expanded on, with a new breeding program and downright more soldiers. Expansion continues 10 px along the Gulf Coast and 10 px along the Indian Ocean Coast. Explorers are also sent out throughout the Indian Ocean as far east as Cathay and as far south as Zimbabwe.
 * Oman offers Portugal the same deal as last time but adds in an extra small fortune. A five-year non-aggression pact is offered to the Ottomans.
 * The Ottomans agree with this non-aggression, but ask that Oman not to trade with Portugal who are dangerous to the House of Islam.
 * The Sultan of Oman would normally agree, but he sees trade as currently the only way to reclaim Muscat.
 * Portugal accepts the deal, provided that Portuguese control of Hormuz remains, and a trade company can be set up in Muscat to ensure direct Portuguese access to the local trade networks.
 * Oman agrees.
 * Cherokee: Our tribe has built some extra hunting trails and has increased our yield of deer by 1200 tonnes. . We begin expansion of our hunting grounds eastward and convince hunting bands to move eastward. We make contact with the Illinois tribes. We focus on Administrative goals for our tribe.
 * Swiss Confederacy: Zürich continues to rebuke the teachings of Martin Luther while the areas around Schwyz become more open to his teachings. The Vorort is again held in Bern. The foreign policy of Switzerland is again reviewed. Switzerland wishes to work closely with many of its neighbors in the Holy Roman Empire and out of it, including Genoa, Florence, Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Bohemia. Trade deals are extender to Würrtemberg. As France and Switzerland are very close both geographically and culturally, especially in the eastern lieus, an offer of alliance is sent to France. Switzerland wishes to repair relations with Austria after the Swabian War. The city of Ulm starts to be influenced by the Swiss Confederacy this year.
 * Milanese Dip: The Duchy of Milan want to confirm the Swiss-Milanese Peace after the Battle of Marignano and assure there are no Swiss plans of expansion into Northern Italy. Therefore, An offer of alliance is requested.
 * Swiss Diplomacy: Switzerland assures that they no longer have a claim on Milan. While they wish to keep from entering into too many alliances at this time, Switzerland does wish to work with Milan closely, it being a powerful Italian state. The Vorort of 1519 will decide the alliance (RNG to be announced next turn). That said, a non-aggression pact valid for fifty years is offered to Milan immediately.
 * Milanese Dip: Milan signs the non-aggression pact and looks forward to future relations with the Swiss Confederacy.
 * Spain: Charles thanks all nations that agreed to be in an alliance with us. There were about 100 people arrested for trying to revolting towards the Catholic church in front of a church in some small town. All 100 people are put to death by the king. All other people who converted or are trying to convert to Predestine Christianity go into hiding from the king and his troops. There is a major trade with the nation of Genoa. 20 ships are sent to Genoa for Asian goods from their finest markets. The king receives a letter from the governor of Hispaniola that a plague of fire ants destroyed more than half of the crops being grown on the island. We send a few ships with new seeds so that the people on the island of Hispaniola could replant all of its crops. Several ships go into coastal north African and coastal east African nations and trade technology stuff for slaves for farming in the new world. This new kind of trade is called the "Triangle Trade". Rebuilding projects of old infrastructure are popping up all over the nation, so we can restore old stuff from not being destroyed. We send our leader to England to discus terms of the Treaty of London. We agree to not attack each other and to help out if one nation is attacked. We ask Navarre for an alliance.
 * Hispaniola (Colony): On the island, we continue to explore the inland forests. Along the coast of the island port cities are still developing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christian. Since the crops are dying, because of the fire ants, we ask the mother nation for some help. After a few months a bunch of ships port on the island and return with seeds so we can regrow our food supply.
 * Castile de Ordo (Colony): Our troops continue to expand 50 px to the north, and 50 px to the south. Port cities are continuing to develop along the coast. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on land back to our people at home. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farming increases on the land, getting bigger and bigger. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Kingdom of Naples: To the north we still close of our borders to everyone. Outpost are continuing to be be made to the north, so that troops with firearms can attack invaders to the land from a distance. Farming continues to go well in the nation. More ships are being built for trade purposes.
 * Kingdom of Sicily: Farming is doing fine within the nation. More ships are being made for trading purposes.
 * Savoyard Secret Diplomacy: We propose an alliance to Spain as per last year's request for the Hapsburg nation-states.
 * Spain Dip: We accept the alliance with Savoyar.
 * Venice: The death of the Doge Leonardo Lorden shocks the Republic of Venice. His death is mourned for three days before a new Doge is elected. The new Doge elected is a 30 year old charismatic man from the noble family of Sommaripa. He was sent to Venice as a child from the Sommaripa homeland of Andros. Poalo Sommaripa begins his reign by expanding the Venetian Arsenal. Production in the Arsenal is increased to create more deep water galleons for out of Mediterranean trade and exploration. Venetian ships are offered up for sale. OTL Venetian trade routes are continued, with ships landing in Tripoli, Alexandria, the Levant, Tunis, Naples, the Black Sea, and Marseilles. A few ships and priests are sent to Benin, hoping to set up a trade route and establishing Catholicism. A trade relationship is requested of any nation. After years of unrest with the Papacy, and the death of the anti-papal Doge diplomats are sent to Rome. There purpose is to try to repair relations between Venice and the church.  A strong condemnation of the blasphemous heretic Luther is sent out. Ties deepen with France. Many poor Venetians begin to move to el Stato de Mar, particularly to Cyprus hoping for a better life. They are met with many opportunities helping to expand the Venetian trade empire.
 * Benin Diplomacy: On behalf of Oba Xadreque I of Benin, we accept the gift of ships and priests from your great nation. We are happy to open trade relations with the Most Serene Republic of Venice, and welcome you to our empire. We wish to establish a permanent embassy in Venice, and begin trading at once on equal terms. We are not yet skilled in the art of navigation or sailing, and wish you to send instructors to train our people in using this glorious vessels of the sea.
 * Kingdom of Georgia: In 1518, the Kingdom of Georgia lay in disarray. The united monarchy and state no longer exist, instead being divided into the feudal petty kingdoms of Kartli, Imereti, Meshketi, and several other minor principalities. In 1513, David X of Kartli conquered his eastern neighbor of Kakheti, bringing it under his suzerainty. In 1517, David X moves his court to Tbilisi and begins stripping the titles of many Kakheti nobles who he suspects will threaten his rule in Kakheti. In response to his dethroning of many counts, many Kakheti aristocrats stage a revolt against David, but it is put down in September after four months of sporadic fighting.Prince Levan, son of the former King of Kakheti, George, is executed for treason. David then turns his sights towards Imereti, Guria, and Meshketi. In Imereti, Bagrat III rules as King, focusing on restoring the capital after a destructive Ottoman raid in 1512. He initially makes it a capital crime to partake in the Ottoman slave trading. However, due to Ottoman pressure, Bagrat makes the crime only punishable by two years of imprisonment. Because of this, several nobles are put under lenient house arrest, causing Bagrat III to look powerless and weak under Ottoman suzerainty. The Georgian Orthodox church is reorganized as well, with Bagrat giving military aid to many looted and distressed churches. In Kartli, David gives royal patronage to several priests and minor patriarchs in order to keep the Orthodox tradition dominant in the region as Ottoman Islam is seen as a threatening force.In diplomatic news, Kartli and Imereti become tributes of the Ottomans, as well as vowing to aid the Turks in war and peace so long as the Orthodox tradition of Georgia be absolutely respected. In 1518, David X orders that the Qizilbash (Shia Azerbaijani militants) residing in the eastern reaches of Georgia be forcibly driven out of the land. If they refuse or fight back, David orders that they be slaughtered. The King of Kartli also turns his attention to his western border, beginning to consider border raids on Imereti.
 * Siena: We start to build a new port town on the coast near the border with Florence. Estimated to take ten years. We also start trading with Venice and Florence. Raffaello Petrucci visits Florence to improve relations. We continue to build ships.
 * Moldavia: Bogdan III continues his reforms to the government of our principality. It is done to be able to be more efficient in collecting taxes, managing land, overseeing trade, conscripting troops, and building new infrastructure. Throughout the nation, new roads are beginning to be built to increase communication. The army grows to a size of 15,000 men, including the elite călărași (cavalry) and lefegii (heavy infantry) regiments. We pay our yearly tributes to the Ottomans. We ask Wallachia, our fellow Romanian state, for an economic and military alliance.
 * ​Wallachia (RNG) accepts the economic alliance but rejects the military one, as Moldavia is a puppet of the Ottomans.
 * The Ottomans find this suggestion of a military alliance suspicious, and warns Moldavia that after any further act of sedition their military will be dsibanded
 * Savoy:We continue military buildup and economic expansion. As the Protestant Reformation spreads like a wildfire, Charles III continues to use subtler methods of preventing the spread of Protestantism, but in private, he decides to resort to lethal force should these subtle methods fail. In the meantime, Jeannot Gagne continues work on the Statue of Venus, finishing much of the Statue much earlier than expected, and waiting by February of 1519 to reveal it. In the meantime, though, Pantaleone Natale's Una Bella Nuovo Mondo, continues to slowly slowly gains popularity among various French-speaking Savoyards, and even spreads its popularity into neighbouring France and other nations bordering the north of Savoy. The Savoyard Golden Age continues, as Charles III continues to strengthen his power and work on various projects to make the current capital: Chambéry better than it was in the past. This allows our nation to focus on administrative matters first, and then on diplomatic ones as well. We decide to become an innovative nation to accelerate our progress. 
 * Kingdom of Hungary: The Kingdom of Hungary is celebrating its one year anniversary of the new ruler of Louis II of the Jagiellon Dynasty. In attempts to focus in on uniting our Kingdom, after the events of the Diet of 1514, the Kingdom of Hungary focuses in on its diplomatic mission statement to help further trade from the influx and increase in trade in Eastern Europe as well as help maintain its alliances. With one of the largest standing armies in Europe, with 150,000 armed soldiers in the borders, the Hungarians put the military maintenance on the secondary tier to maintain but improve the army just slightly. The Hungarians agree to the Ottomans seven year peace treaty. Hungary agrees to the Teutons, Poland-Lithuania, and Terra Mariana's trade agreements. Hungary also agrees to the alliance deals sent by the Poles/Lithuanians and the Teutonic Order. There's a growing of Martin Luther's teachings among some of the nobility, due to the diplomats and traders coming from Northern Europe. Hungary begins creating claims on the Venetian lands in Southern Europe, as they are historic Hungarian lands and belong to the Magyars.
 * Duchy of Ferrara: The programs of Duke Alfonso d'Este get well under way throughout the year of 1518. The universities in Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio Emilia become known throughout Italy as places of great intellectual and cultural discussion. The Duke continues funneling money into the patronage of Ferraresi artists and writers, contributing to the cultural prestige of the Duchy and d'Este family. Administrative improvements across the realm continues to increase the amount of money entering the state's coffers. The Duke is quite pleased by the acceptance of his alliance offer by the Republic of Genoa.
 * Ferraresi Diplomacy: The Duke sends an alliance offer to the Kingdom of France and to the Kingdom of Hungary.
 * Hungarian Diplomacy: We accept the alliance.
 * Papal States: The Papacy starts working among it's subjects to bring them closer to God through the Eucharist and the Blood of Christ. Plans to also spread the gospel throughout the Papcy are implemented, with more masses being offered to lowly peasants to help save their lonely souls. Leo X also calls onto those who will honor the Papacy with indulgences, for a small fee. The Papal States get a copy of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses are horrified over the prospect of it. Leo starts to try to bring Luther to his court, where he can offer him a last chance or repentance before a potential excommunication. Pope Leo X celebrates the fact that the king of Benin converted to the Catholic Church, and says in a speech "God is on our side. The pagans are now waking up to the true glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.". Pope Leo X starts vassalizing Siena, hoping to bring it closer to the Pope and God. Meanwhile, word starts coming in that Duke of San Marino hasn't been a piotus man, as the Papal States start to think of military action to remove him.
 * Milanese Dip: The offer of alliance from the previous year from the Duchy of Milan in order to limit French domination in Northern Italy still stands.
 * Papal Diplomacy: Pope Leo X accepts this alliance.
 * Poland-Lithuania calls for a coalition against the Ottoman Empire, viewing them as a threat in Europe. The military currently has 100,000 men, and plans are laid to increase the size of the military, in order to help deal with the Ottoman threat. Polish diplomats propose that Muscovey aid Poland in an invasion of the Crimea, to drive the Ottomans from the Black Sea. Trade is opened with Hungary, and we support their claims on Venetian land.
 * Duchy of Milan: The Duchy of Milans offers of alliance to Austria, The Papal states and the Swiss Confederacy still stands. In addition Milan wishes to extend our offer of alliance to Genoa to one of trade with a possibility of a Milanese Trading post in Genoa. In Milan there is agitation over the rumours of the return of Maximilian Sforza. Supporters of the former Duke have supposedly travelled to France in order to negotiate his return. However, nothing is certain. The cultural and economic recovery in the area continues
 * Genoese Diplomacy: We accept Milan's offer of a trade agreement and we will allow Milan to have a trade post in Genoa in return for a Genoese trade post in Milan. We hope that we both can prosper from this deal.
 * Austrian Dip: The Ambassador in Milan informs the duke that we accept and hopes to have an era of prosperity which will prosper our two states.
 * Austria: Maximilian I requests to be crowned by the Pope as he prepares to visit the Papal States. We request to join the Coalition against the Ottoman Empire as the threat of the Ottomans passes into our territory. Maximilian I proposes a reorganisation of the HRE to prevent the Protestant Reformation from spreading. High amounts of tax are placed on the Serfs to improve the economic situation, the Ambassador in Milan requests the building of a trading post in the area. Diplomats are sent to the Swiss Confederacy to place it under our influence.
 * Swiss Diplomacy: We wish to improve relations, but we will be, by no means, influenced by Austria.
 * Austrian Diplomacy: The Diplomats propose a trade request that can improve both our economic situations.
 * Milanese Dip: Milanese officials accept the request for a trading post to be built in the Duchy, on the condition that Milanese trading posts be built in Austria.
 * Savoyard Secret Diplomacy: We propose an alliance to Austria as per last year's request for the Hapsburg nation-states.
 * Portugal: Upon receiving a copy of Luther's Theses through an advisor, King Manuel I publicly denounces the paper, issuing full support of the Catholic Church. Trade continues to extend to Benin's cities, and more missionaries of the faith are being sent to Benin to help set up churches around the country. Diplomats and traders are also sent to Benin to help teach the king and his advisors the ways of European court life, as well as expert trading techniques. Ten more ships are built to help expand trade in the east, and diplomats are sent to Ayutthaya to promote trade between the nations via Malacca. The current trading outposts in Goa and Maluku are expanded, with emphasis on growing the East Indies spice trade. Samples of the exotic nutmeg, mace and cloves spices, found only on the Maluku Islands, are brought round all the trading capitals of Europe by Portuguese traders, in an attempt to promote the purchase of Portuguese spices. With growing tensions in Europe, the King orders the Portuguese land army to be expanded, enlisting a further 25,000 troops, to safeguard against potenial call to arms against the growing Protestant threat. More ships are sent to Ming China, with the intent of opening a permanent trade route, as Chinese porcelain and other hand-crafted goods are growing in popularity in Lisbon, and traders see the potential in expanding this market to the rest of Europe. With the permission of the king, two hundred settlers, along with an equivalent amount of slaves, set up a colony in Brazil at Pernambuco, where sugar plantations are set up, and Brazilwood camps are established.
 * Oman offers to buy back the port of Muscat in return for a preferential trade deal, a few crates of ivory, a hundred educated slaves, a dozen harem girls, and continued to access to use of the port for five years and three years of access in Dubai.
 * Portugal replied on your post above.
 * Joseon: A series of reforms begin as King Jungjong seeks to establish a self-reliant, powerful Korea capable of defending itself from a hostile China and a unified Japan. Neo-Confucianism, which promotes obedience to the state, is made the official state ideology. In addition to this, the Korean government promotes academic achievement, innovation, artistry, and Korean nationalism. The use of Hanja is heavily discouraged and is banned in formal situations. Hangul is declared the sole official script and is used to teach adults how to read and write. The rigid, hereditary, caste-based system known as the bone rank system is abolished to prevent power struggles between the aristocratic elite and the Korean monarchy and to establish equal opportunities for Koreans of different socioeconomic classes. The production of paper bills is restricted to prevent hyperinflation, and external trade is limited to, stop a disastrous outflow of precious metals and an inflow of foreign ideas. The mass-production of gunpowder weapons begins and Korean scientists flirt with the prospect of weaponised fireworks. Compulsory military service is enacted for all able-bodied men (excluding members of the government or nobility). Korea invades the Japanese island of Kyushu.
 * Sweden: Following the death of Christian II, the Swedish nobles as part of the Riksrad, again meet in Stockholm to decide the fate of the country. Led by the powerful Vasa Family, they reaffirm their right to elect the next king. They vote to elect Gustav Vasa as king Gustav I. One of his first acts is to call on his election as king in both Norway and Denmark in order to preserve the Kalmar Union.( Mode Response) A royal army is created and trained from the peasant class while a small navy is created to patrol the coast. Stockholm continues to be fortified and the port is expanded to deal with an increase in Baltic trade. The new king also takes interest in Luther's Ninety-Five theses and allows copies to be distributed throughout the Kingdom. We continue to expand into the Northern part of the country and in Finland.
 * Swedish Diplomacy: We accept the trade and alliance offer from the Teutonic Order from last year and offer a trade agreement and alliance to Brandenburg.
 * Ostland Diplomacy: We offer Sweden a trade deal and a non-aggression pact for ten years, while we also ask them for an alliance.
 * Swedish Diplomacy: We accept.
 * Ethiopia: Continuing its conquest of the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia begins the sending of soldiers into modern day South Sudan, successfully taking over the eastern region of modern day South Sudan (Namorunyang, Boma, Easten Bieh, etc.).  Due to Portuguese influence in Ethiopia, Ethiopia proposes a trade agreement with Portugal, as opposed to the occasional missions sent by Portugal. Ethiopia rejects the Spanish offer of slaves for technology, as Ethiopia is currently focused on expanding its borders.
 * ​Portugal accepts the trade deal offer.


 * Ostland: According to our agreement with the Pope Leo X Landmeister Walter von Plettenberg is crowned as King of Ostland by the Pope, Pope Leo X also declears void his religious vows, to enable him to establish a dynasty and a secular kingdom, while King Walter von Plettenberg promises to his loyal subjects to rule his lands with wisdom and fairness. The Bishoprics, the Archbishoprics inside the former territory of Terra Mariana, given to King Walter von Plettenberg by Pope Leo X as agreed, are dispensed to King Walter von Plettenberg most fanatic and loyal supporters, while changing their use, being restructured into baronies, counties, duchies and so on, with the city of Riga becoming the capital. A grand palace/castle is planned to be constructed in Riga, with King Walter von Plettenberg commissioning leading German, French and Italian architects to build him his grand palace, which is planned to be used as his residence. Livonian Order is reorganized as vassal of the Kingdom of Ostland, while some consider them a mercenary company now. However, some of them leave our order to join the Teutonic Knights, while a few travel farther to reach the Knights Hospitallers in Rhodes. King Walter von Plettenberg as fears an attack from Poland-Lithuania, due to their increasing power, so he starts construction of watch posts and fortresses along the border and increases army recruitment and shipbuilding immensely, recruiting many German, Livonian and Estonian men into the Ostland army, but also volunteers and recruits from all over the Holy Roman Empire, while some of them are made knights depending on their skills. By the end of the year, the Ostland army is around 20.000 men strong and the navy about 40 ships, with one quarter of the planned ships being specifically designed for deep water sailing, transforming to a standing, professional army. We continue researching new cannons, muskets and other modern weapons, while also trying to improve gunpowder. Martin Luther's Evangelical interpretations and rejection of Catholic excesses gains momentum amongst the people of Ostland, while many Livonian order knights and nobles start supporting Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. However, due to our agreement with the most holy Pope Leo X we denounce Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses as heretical, while a law is made imprisoning anyone that possesses Martin Luther's heretical theses or preaches favoring them. However, that law is not applied on basis, being mostly used exemplary. Ostsiedlung/German eastward expansion continues, as we encourage Germans, Dutch, Flemish, Danes, Swedes, Norse to settle in our realm in order to promote the development of the less populated portions of their realm, so we provide them an incentive to immigrate giving them huge privilages. We also try to assimilate them into the local German culture, seeking to enstrenghten our country, by enacting many measures to reduce the use of their mother tongue, while trying to not be too oppressive, while we also try to assimilate the locals too (Livonians, Estonians). Seeing the flourish in world wide sea trade, we decide that we want to play a bigger role in this business, thus we start constructing a deep water merchant fleet, by the end of the year 20 merchant ships are made and there are immidietly put on work, sailing into East Indies and China, hoping to buy spices from East Indies and porcelain and other hand-crafted goods from China, seeing the success of the Portuguese, wanting to follow their example. We focus on the administration of the country, thus military becomes secondary priority.
 * Ostland Diplomacy: Due to our transition from an order to a secular Kingdom, we ask the Teutonic Knights and the Margraviate of Brandenburg to renew our alliance, while we ask again Grand Principality of Muscovy for an alliance with them, in order to limit Polish-Lithuanian expansion at our expense, seeking to establish a coalition against Poland-Lithuania, having already allied with the Teutonic Order and Margraviate of Brandenburg. Also we offer Sweden a trade deal and a non-aggression pact for ten years, while we also ask them for an alliance.
 * Musocvy Dip: We will agree to something defensive, nothing offensive while we handle the eastern hordes. However, in the case of this defensive treaty we do request Ostland to support some of our wars in the east.
 * Ostland Diplomacy: We agree to send half our army (10,000 men), as well as half our reformed Livonian Order (around 5000 men, not sure), to aid you in the east against Khazan. We agree for the coalition to be defensive, we also ask the Teutonic Knights and the Margraviate of Brandenburg to officially join the defensive coalition against Poland-Lithuania, in order to prevent any aggression from Poland-Lithuania's side.
 * Grand Principality of Muscovy: Muscovy with further advancement of its administrative purposes throughout the state begins to convert the remaining muslims in Kasimov looking to keep Orthodox the top religion in Muscovy, the publishing of Luthers Theses while somewhat available is totally dismissed by Grand Prince Vasili. The Military officially marshalls its strength raising two expeditionary armies of nearly 100,000 and 20,000 both consisting of nearly 80,000 infantry and 1000 general cavalry and 50 cannons manned by 1000 men and the Elite force of 9000 noble mounted nights. with the second army being 10,000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 1000 elite royal guard units, and 1000 men manning 50 cannons as well. The uses of artillery are expected to be light but with the potential threats faced the Grand Prince made the decision to have the peices accompany the army.. (Kazan was in fact a Muscovite protectorate in this period until 1521) And parks its outside of the  Kazan with the stated objective to annex the city of Kazan all the way to the border with the Nogai horde.. The Grand Army is marched into Kazan and within weeks is parked outside the Khanates capital beginning a major Seige. While this is going on nearly 20,000 troops from the second army from the Seiging force on the Kazani Capital of Kazan proper and are marched around securing much of the surrounding Steppe territory but stopping before hitting more forts and secured cities halfway through Kazan. Vasili seeking to gain to full on support of his nobles with this campaign tasks his nobility to take the force of nearly 80,000 they have gathered up and guard the southern Borders particularly Ryazan and the Kasimov areas, being the only areas Crimea or anyone could come through. The Military forces in Kazan wait for a response, but knowing their superior position can well afford waiting for the Kazani armies to march. Muscovy demands that Kazan as a Muscovite protectorate cede control of the city of Kazan and all territory up to the Nogai Hordes border. With the ongoing war in Kazan Gran Prince Vasili begins to exchange envoys with the poles on talks of a coalition against the Ottomans but aside from getting rid of Crimea being an issue, sees little to gain from attacking the Ottomans, the idea remains entertained but not popular. Vasili begins to build up infrastructure between his cities specifically Muscovy to Novgorod as well as to Vladimir. The population of Russia grows moderately. The Grand principality begins to show some technological development in its military forces with the adoption of some firearms becomming standard to the royal guard and other more home based units. The Grand Principality expands by 200 px east using displaced peoples, those down on their luck, or just regular people to settle new eastern territory. Muscovy begins to open up relations with Poland, Brandenburg, the Teutonic Order, and Ostland for a potential coalition to check the advance of any muslims against christians in the East. With the preassure put on Kazan, the Muscovite forces are able to finally enter Kazan with minor resistance, with the Kazani forces being caught almost entirely off guard at the city. The Kazani army is nowhere to be found, but the puppet ruler of Kazan assures they will stand down and retreat to the remaining half of Kazan he still controls. With this however a russian advisor is tagged along and sent to the new capital further east taking with him 10,000 troops to set up a pliable vassal out of the rest of Kazan. With the Duma now seeing some success its called once again discussing the the nobilities issues with the eastern settlement with many serfs running away to settle east. Grand Prince Vasili takes this and provides a clear cut answer, detailing a system allowing a certain quota of people per year allowed to leave their land. Those who want to go, must make sure the land can be taken over or given to somebody else essentially taking over their duty to their lord. This in turn allows the now landless peseant to travel east and settle on the virgin territory. The nobility agrees on the condition that the quota remain at a medium amount preventing a massive drain on the manpower and productivity of the old nobilities territories. Grand Prince Vasili also begins considering how to integrate Kazan into the duma and looks for considerations into candidates for the Kazani Duchy.
 * Doesn't Muscovy and Poland hate each other? How is that a plausible alliance? -Nate
 * We hate the Ottomans more. Course, we will end up killing each other.' On top of that there ' 
 * Ryazan: Operating until the operational umbrella of Muscovy the Ryazani force of 20,000 matching the cavalry ratio of the Mucovite nobility but unable to match its artillery holds its southern border presenting a 100,000 strong force to any enemies south fortifying the southern borders particularly with the building of two forts which stand guard over the approaches to Ryazan and Muscovies southern border proper.
 * The Crimean Khanate calls all the members of the Kievan Horde to stand up in defense of Kazan, and sends 30,000 Tartar soldiers and moutned cavalry to its aid, accompanied with 4,000 Sipahi cavalry and 12 light artillary pieces on loan from the Ottomans.
 * Alright, so the verdict on Kazan is that Feud gets control of it, and can do what he wants, since it's Muscovy's subject. I also apologize for making it independent. I thought it was. The RNG for the league was also a mistake, and I undid it. Sat (Talk to me!)
 * Pretty sure Feud was certain about going to war against Kazan, not annexing a vassal he already owns. But if you're changing your mind, I guess I have to retcon
 * Partly my fault for lack of pre planned research. Will try to keep my research up to date. Ill just butterfly my war movement more as a forceful annexation. Has good roleplay value either way. Sorry for any confusion this whole situation has caused -Feud
 * Ostland Diplomacy: King Walter von Plettenberg asks to marry one of King Vasili III daughters, being heirless and well past his prime, while also looking to strenghten ties with the Grand Principality of Muscovy and the Rurik dynasty, after the signing of the coalition against Poland-Lithuania and the improvement of relationships between our two great countries.
 * The Lowlands: The governor of the Lowlands, Margaret of the House Habsburg, notices Luther's theses, but doesn't pay much acttention to them. The Dutch people, however, feel differently about the theses and they are generally supportive of Luther. They don't act on them, however. The Lowlands focus on diplomatic technology, offering trade to all its neighbours and beginning the expansion of the navy. 
 * Angu: Namton A'fao Koito's tactics seem to have been successful as the Zia clans accepted the gifts and good relations are begining to develop with them. The Hamtai tribe, albeit most populous among the Angans, is not as culturally influential as the others which can be seen as a lingua franca begins to emerge. Words that are common among all tribes are solidifying their place while some are seemingly randomly selected to become the common ones. The Namton A'fao's "council", so to speak, has been formed and its duty is to help organize the tribes. One representative from each tribe is there. Namton A'fao Koito attempts to strengthen his ties with the Zia by marrying the Yewa Clan's Chief's daughter. Angu begins to vassalize Zia (1/5).
 * The Yewa Chief grants his daughter to Namton A'fao Koito of the Angu people.
 * Maldives: Begins lowering port taxes and invites all who wish to trade with Maldives to come. Starts planting more spice plantations and hiring more fishermen. Fortifies the port in case of attacks. Maldives sends a diplomat to Bengal to ask for an Alliance.
 * The Ottoman Empire opens trade with the Maldives, and asks that they not trade with the Portuguese.


 * Bohemia: We start to recruit more troops and build up the military. As well, we continue to have our plan to build more fortifications in closer lands. We might seek a closer alliance with Brandenburg. Our plan is to work relations with them and ours. The fortifications based on closer lands on Bavaria might not be so close, as we build them to protect the cities and capital city. Governor of Bohemia, is focusing to make a slight building change in the capital city, to have much more better population. We also focus primarily on administrative, secondary militaristic for better army and our ideas can be set to economic.
 * In the recently reunited Electorate of Saxony, Martin Luther's preaching clearly moves thousands of Saxons. Many burghers of Wittenberg petition Prince-Elector Frederick III to adopt Luther's Evangelical teachings, but Frederick announces that he is still loyal to the Pope. Frederick announces that he will be investing new tax earnings in the creation of docks along the rivers Elbe and its tributary, the Saale. The first dock is to be built in Wittenberg, and construction begins immediately, stimulating an increase in trade in the capital city. Cranach's publishing business is increasingly prominent in central Europe, and he asks Luther to translate the Bible into German for publication. Cranach also finishes a portrait of Luther. The Elector visits his fellow Electors in Bohemia, Brandenburg, and the Palatinate to discuss Imperial reforms, and plans to visit Cologne, Trier, and Mainz next year.


 * Teutonic Knights: We continue fortifying our borders against probable Polish aggression, having several fortresses reaching completion by the end of the year, we continue mass recruitment throughout the year, reaching an approximately fifty-to-fifty-five-thousand soldier strong army, we begin research into the latest weapons, particularly firearms and cannons, continue building ships, reaching a fleet of about 40 ships by the end of the year, Hochmeister Albert von Brandenburg-Ansbach encourages the peoples of Europe to join the Order, hoping to get as many new recruits as possible, now that the more important fortifications are complete we construct infrastructure, shipyards and other such miscellaneous structures across our lands, and the militaristic focus continues, with quantity ideas being researched.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: The Teutons ask the Muscovites if they require any help in their war with the Kazanis, offering to send ten thousand Teutonic soldiers under the command of Wolfgang von Luxembourg, one of our more experienced leaders.
 * Ostland Diplomacy: Due to our transition from an order to a secular Kingdom, we ask the Teutonic Knights to renew our alliance, while we invite them to join the defensive coalition aiming to limit Polish-Lithuanian expasion at our expanse, with the Grand Principality of Muscovy having already joined.


 * Persia: We seek peace with the Ottomans and would like to have a peace treaty to end the war and to give the Ottomans some of the land that they want. We build our military, economy and our army. We respect all our allies. We would like to offer trade agreements with Europe and the East, hoping to become rich for our position. We announce that if any European/Asian traders want to travel through Persia, they would have to pay a small tax. We continue to build major cities. We would like a non-aggression pact for five years with the Ottoman Empire. We engin to supply Europe with more guns. We raise the biggest army possible against the Ottomans.
 * The Ottomans refuse to comply with the Rejectors unless they offer all the land the Turks want.


 * Khmer Empire: The government begins a massive program to rebuild the rice fields, building new platforms, irrigation, and drainage systems to save the fields. Our King requests trade agreements with our neighbors and military pacts, in exchange we will give free access to ports in our southern borders with the ocean. The capital, Angkor is beginning to see major infrastructure problems. To remedy this, the capital is temporarily relocated to Yasodharapura, while stonecutters and laborers move into the city to repair and rebuild it. The army is ordered to secure the borders, but not to advance any further. There is discussions of possibly forming vassal states from the outer regions, but allow the locals to govern them to increase the strength of the main nation. Infrastructure increases.
 * Songhai Empire: Emperor Askia Muhammad I starts a process of trying to convert the whole population to Islam. With while little funding being putting into mosques the basic tenets of Islam to create a unifying culture as well as the creation of a national history which is while Islamic based focuses on regional mythological heroes. With our nations reforms having been implemented although with our nation still adjusting to the new system of laws and running we keep working on the new weights and taxation system. While at the same time we send 80,000 soldiers into the Jolof Kingdom to take it over.
 * Sultanate of Bengal: The Sultanate of Bengal is neither carefree or tense. While our great sultan has established a new age of gold, he has grown old and sick. His son must take the reigns of the nation. Due to this, Bengal is unable to expand into Central India. A devout Muslim, the Sultan's son forcefully converts Hindus to Muslims, arresting top brahmins. This of course, creates unrest and dissent in the general population and Hindus begin to grow decadent. Fortunately, we seek alliances, and accept the Sultan of Delhi's offer. The state adopts an attitude of administration and diplomacy second, since the state would not do well in any attempt to expand. We continue tenuous trade relationships with the Portuguese, from which had been established two decades ago with the arrival of Vasco de Gama. We accept all previous offers from Kabulistan. Nearing the end of the year, the Sultan's son launches a campaign into Godwana, in an attempt to conquer one of the three conflicting states.
 * Hafsid Tunisia: The construction of fortifications along the coasts continue, the fortification of carthage has finally come to an end and the training of military forces officially begin, we ask the Ottomans for joint training of our militaries in carthage and aid in building up our navies. (Military, economy and infrastructure are usually built up) we ask spain again for an open trade with the country.
 * Genoa: We request open trade with Tunisa.
 * Genoa: Genoese sailors are astonished upon arriving in Benin, seeing a new land so unlike back home and are deeply moved by such a warm welcome and are delighted that they have converted to the Christian faith and we begin trading with them. Trading with Benin adds to our lucrative and expansive trade network of trading in Nice, Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia, Gibraltar, Tripoli, Algeirs, Alexandria, Tangen, Safi, Lisbon, Porto, La Rochelle. We request to trade in Instanbul and in Rome. The massive amount of wealth we are acquiring from extensive trade with Spain and recently Benin allows us to build a massive amount of ships. Thus the Doge commissions more ships to be built. In order to expand Genoa’s wealth, The Doge also charters for Genoa to establish a port colony in OTL Benghazi (then called Marsa ibn Ghazi) and colonists are sent there. With the Dutchy of Milan being accepted as our new ally, we begin to vassalize them, hoping to spread the great wealth of Genoa to our new friend. 
 * Bavaria: The Reformation continues to take root among the peasantry, and the dukes, while remaining officially neutral, are beginning to grow more sympathetic to Luther's ideas, though the clergy is rather reluctant to accept them. We continue improving our weapon technology and fortifying our borders with Austria and Bohemia. Seeing that our military is, as of now, a primarily infantry and cannon force, effort is made to incorporate a cavalry division, with hope of adding 1,000 new mounted units to the army within the year. All alliance requests made last year remain open.
 * Sultanate of Delhi: Economy, infrastructure and military improve. Population continues to grow very fast. More residential buildings, cultural and public buildings, commercial buildings and mining plants are built. Roads and farms are built or improved and cities continue to grow. Education is improved and more educational buildings are built. Continues fortifying its borders by building new fortresses and armies are placed in fortresses. Accepts both trade agreement and tolerance to Buddhists from Tibet. Primary focus on militaristic and secondary focus on administrative begins to be reached. Seeking for more land, the Sultanate invades the small country of Bikaner and requests Mewar to join in their war and share Bikaner for land.

1519
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'''After the conversion of the King of Benin there is some serious backlash from administrators and local leaders, though this is slightly lessened by the existing presence of missions. This also results in a difficulty in expanding the military, as fewer citizens are now willing to fight for a newly-foreign establishment, and morale in general is temporarily tarnished. Along with this the slave trade has been regulated more, and the economy of Benin, especially in the north where there’s trade with Saharan slavers, declines slightly, but as more non-Beninese are enslaved the supply will eventually meet equilibrium with demand. Small militantly anti-Christian groups form in in in-land villages. Most people who do convert to Christianity retain most of their traditional beliefs and polytheism, making them heretics by Catholic standards.'''

'''Martin Luther makes an agreement with the Church to stay silent  if his opponents did, however Johann Eck challenges Luther and one of his colleagues to a religious debate, in which Luther states that neither the Pope nor Church Councils were infallible. This resulted in Luther being compared to Jan Hus, an attempted-reformer who was burned at the stake in 1415. There were no legal results.'''

'''Ulrich Zwingli, a theologian who was influenced by Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, beings to preach in Zurich. His message, of the need for a theocracy on Earth, is widely received in the Swiss Confederacy, and leads to the spread of Evangelicalism in nearby France and Italy.'''

'''Cocoa arrives in Europe from Central America, creating a frenzy. Spanish traders seek to capitalize upon this new trend and trade with the Aztecs increases, but tensions between the natives and colonial governments come to a head.  Maximilian, Holy Roman Emperor, dies after years of depression and awaiting death. The Electoral College (comprised of Brandenburg, Saxony, Palatinate, Bohemia, Mainz, Trier, Cologne) is summoned to Frankfurt to elect a new Emperor. Vote here!'''

'''A succession crisis breaks out in Austria, as the grandson and presumptive heir of Maximilian is King Charles of Spain. Charles’ younger brother, Ferdinand, is crowned Archduke of Austria, sparking a threat of war between the two European powers.'''

'''In Denmark, Frederick, the uncle of Christian II, takes the throne of Kalmar Union. The Danish demand that the supossed Sweden monarch abdicate, or else face the worst.'''

Due to increased Portuguese trade in the Indian Ocean the economy of the Ottomans and Persia take a slight downturn as Portugal now funnels goods around Africa rather than the East Mediterranean, however the Ottomans and Persia retain their essential edge due to the sheer distance the Portuguese must travel.
 * Grand Principality of Muscovy: Muscovy with further advancement of its administrative purposes throughout the state begins to convert the remaining muslims in Kasimov looking to keep Orthodox the top religion in Muscovy, the publishing of Luthers Theses while somewhat available is totally dismissed by Grand Prince Vasili. The population of Russia grows moderately. The Grand principality begins to show some technological development in its military forces with the adoption of some firearms becomming standard to the royal guard and other more home based units. With the relatively swift annexation of nearly half of Kazan, a local military force is assembled by nearly 10,000 Russian troops who have either agreed or been paid well to take up residence in Kazan as part of the new russian settlement now coloquially known as the Russian quarter this area sees some growth as a few russian families migrate and the soldiers begin to bring their own families and marry local women. The delegation to Kazan has been seen by some of the nobility as brash, however the new Russian noble ruling over the Duchy of Kazan begins to make a few positive movements into urbanizing many of the horde peoples, with a major push to turn the wandering peoples outside of Kazan into villages offering incentives to settling down. While some religious men come into Kazan to convert, the new russian duke doesnt endorse it entirely and focuses more on organzing Kazan into a profitable province. The Muscovite principality agrees to send a daughter to the new king of Ostland securing our new alliance and relationship indefinitely. The various leading generals of the principality begin planning for major potential conflict with the hordes and potentially the Ottomans and aside from hitting certain choke points, its generally agreed that one of the best strategies is to employ scorched earth. The Grand Principality expands by 200 px east using displaced peoples, those down on their luck, or just regular people to settle new eastern territory. The Duma seeing success in their cooperation with the Grand Prince show overtly positive views of the Grand Prince Vasili. In terms of appealing to the nobility and working on some comraderie Grans Prince Vasili takes many Boyars with him on a week long hunting trip and offers to go once again with the various princes and boyars he missed before.
 * Principality of Ryazan: The Principality of Ryazan stands down but keeps its 20,000 man army at the ready and at the border in case of incursions by Crimean or any other horde forces. The Principality improves many of its roads towards muscovy and further talks of annexation are brought to court with the recent proof of integration through the Ryazani troops to the nobles military force shows proof of the incorporation of the Ryazani principality
 * Duchy of Lesser Kazan: With great unpopularity the Duchy of Lesser Kazan is created out of the former Kazan horde. The Duchy itself while mostly muslim is under the orthodox christian faith and under control of a Russian general who using some of his own personal fortune and help from the Grand Prince to bring together a garrison force of nearly 20,000 to keep the area pacified. The Lesser Kazani duchy sees major immigration of many of the Kazani Cossacks who are immediately integrated into the state but displaced to the east giving them some room to settle in 50 px
 * Poland-Lithuania: supports the Austrian Arch-Duke over King Charles of Spain. As technological research begins, studying aboard the technologies of the Great Powers, Polish industry is stepped up to bring it to similar levels as the other powers. The King is hesitant to open relations with Muscovy, but in the end agrees, as the Ottomans are indeed a threat. Polish troops now number 150,000 men in total, and some men are stationed at forts along the border with the Crimea. Meanwhile, advisors are sent to the new king in Denmark.
 * Republic of Florence: In 1519, Florence remains heavily under de' Medici control. With both Pope Leo X and Lorenzo II being from the Medici family, the two nations remain closely tied with healthy relations. The nation focuses primarily on diplomatic matters, with administrative matters following closely behind. The republic focuses on creating a huge navy to rival other republics in the region and mimic their European trade empires. The republic continues to pass many laws and policies denouncing and attempting to disprove the ninety-five theses. With Luther's new statement after the religious debate, he the government officially denounces him and bans indefinetely from entering the nation. With Ulrich Zwingli spreading evangelicalism, he is also indefinetely banned by Lorenzo II from entering the realm. Although these ideas are being widely receieved in Switzerland, the exclusive lumber trade between Florence and the Swiss still continue. Florence continues investing Florins into buying lumber from the Swiss to build a navy, and a purchase of ten ships are bought from Venice. Florence continues to sustain alliances with Spain, Siena, Savoy, and the Papacy. After the consummation of marriage between Lorenzo and Eleanor, it is immeidately discovered that Eleanor has become pregnant. On April 14, Giovanni de' Medici is born and seems to be healthy. Celebrations happen throughout Florence, but some populists still yearn for the end of Medici rule. The Florentine Navy numbers at around six hundred fifty ships.
 * Florentine Diplomacy: Lord Lorenzo II de' Medici offers alliances to the nations of Portugal. The Florentine government also supports Charles I of Spain for the Austria and Imperial thrones.
 * Sultanate of Bengal: The Great Sultan of of Bengal has died and his son has taken charge. His son must take the reigns of the Sultanate. However, due to two years of forced conversions, Hindus have had enough oppression and declare a new state and a civil war against the state begins. Many Muslims believe forced conversion is haram and take the side of the Hindus. Due to a one-sided civil war, the now sultan commits suicide in the middle of the year, not even three months after the start of the civil war. The new state encourages Hindus all across the Indian subcontinent to rise up against their Muslim rulers. We retain an alliance with Tibet and friendly relations with Kabulistan, keeping up trade, with the state seeing them as a necessary evil all the way across the subcontinent. We completely focus on military by launching a campaign into Godwana, attacking the three tiny states at once. We call Tibet into the war to send, at the least, supplies and their best warriors. We continue trade with the Portuguese, but seek to strengthen now-established trade routes with them. We continue to seek diplomatic alliances across Asia. We also promote Hinduism as a unifiying factor to combat separatism.
 * Tibet sends supplies and some artillery to aid Bengal's invasion.
 * Kabul's envoys display their good will to Bengal by allowing their small retinue escorting the envoy to engage in battle before returning towards the West.
 * Siena: The Cardinal denounces Martin Luther. He sends 250 soldiers to the Vatican to start a police force to arrest all who believe in Luther's teachings. He travels to Paris to help relations with the French. Four new ships are built. Siena adopts the Florin as its currency.
 * Benin: In light of the resistance to Christianity in Benin, the Oba moves to crush any groups fighting the religion. First, Xadreque reminds his people of their obligated service to the state, and the punishment for resistance to his new religion. The nobles of Benin side with the Oba seeking to position themselves faborably in the power games of Benin. Converted villages chiefs, who traditionally do not reside on their fiefs, make personal visits to their lands, a rarity in Benin culture, and make the case to the residents of their demense. They also warn of the danger of upsetting the Oba, who's power remains undisputed and a real danger to those who resist his will. With the support of the nobility, Xadreque is able to wrest control from most of the anti-Christian groups, who are being chased into the bush by village warriors supporting the new Roman Catholic Church in Benin. The Iyase of Benin assures Xadreque that within a few years, the people shall come around to the new ideology, and those who refuse will be dealt with on the local level, removing the Oba from any potential backlash in the future. With that matter more or less settled, Xadreque turns to the matter of the slave trade, which has suffered a temporary setback thanks to his regulatory programs. First, Xadreque orders the minting of the zuruoke, each being 24mm of 3.383 grams of gold per coin (about $145.17). To met demand for slaves, Xadreque issues a royal decree stating that all men outside of the lands of Benin, young boys and young girls, and any non-Christian Africans, are to be sold to the Europeans for 20 zuruoke ($2,903.46). All slave trading must be channeled through the port city of Onim, to ensure strict regulation of slave ships passing through Benin waters. To enforce this law, the five vessels purchased from Portugal, as well as the multiple Genoese and Ventian deep-water galleys, are to serve as the customs fleet of Benin, pursuring and arresting any individuals partaking in the smuggling of slaves off the coast of Benin. Oba Xadreque declares that Benin alone shall have monopoly on the selling of slaves anywhere in West Africa, and that any vessels passing through the Bright of Benin with slaves not hailing from Benin, will be levied a tariff of two zuruoke per slave found on their ship. All slaves sold by Benin shall carry a special branding mark on their bodies to prove their place of origin, assisting the Benin customs navy in tracking down "illegal" slaves passing through Benin's territorial waters. As per the needs of the state, to assist the selling of slaves for Benin, the army continues to expand the borders of Benin east by 150 px, capturing any men, boys, and girls in the land, and selling them off the the European traders based out of Onim. The women are instead kept as trophies, and parceled out to the warriors of the campaign as wives, concubines, and servants. Taking advantage of the vast wealth of Benin, Oba Xadreque establishes a new system of paying the warriors from the Royal Regiment. Each member of the Ekaiwe and Isienmwenro will be paid a wage of three zuruoke per month. The Oba considers expanding this system to the rest of the military to create a system of barracks, professional warriors, and supply trains to improve the quality of the troops under his command. Elsewhere, the road network of Benin is expanded, with all majoy towns and cities in Benin connected by the new roads, and ensuring a swift and efficent transportation of goods from one place to another. The shipwrights in Onim begin to expand under the direction of the Portuguese instructors, who teach the Benin workers how to build ships, navigator them, and maintain them.
 * Rhodes: After the secularization of the Livonian Order last year, the Grand Master Philippe de Villiers decide to do the same, although without the Pope's approval. He claim the island as his own and declare himself the first Prince of the Principality of Rhodes. He decide shortly after to convert to Lutheranism, thinking it is the only way to finally unite the Catholics and Orthodox of the island. Following the secularization of the island, the members of the Order are split, most of the Frenches stay with the Prince, while many Spaniards and Italians return to Rome. After that, the new government begin the conversion of the population to Lutheranism. On a secondary note, the Prince continue developing technologies to upgrade the fleet. Prince Philippe I, as he call himself, also search for a wife in Europe.
 * Venice Dip: After the conversion to Lutheranism and the disbanding of the knights of St. John a strong condemnation of Rhodes is sent off and OTL alliances are disbanded.
 * Rhodes (OOC): Just to be clear, the Order is NOT disband, as the Teutonic Order was not disband in real life. It's just that it is highly reducted in number and without an home (they will probably return to Rome, or go to whoever offer them lands). If you read the post, only the French knights stayed with Philppe. The majority of the Spaniards and Ialians refused to rennounce their vows. Just to make it clear.
 * Ottoman Empire: Economy and military improves in the Turkish Empire, with a total population of 12 million. Mercantile trade and caravan travelers transverse across the empire, as well as exporting and importing many commodities to many distant lands. Trade networks across the Sahara is set up with Songhai, Ethiopia and Bornu. Up across the Caucasus mountains, overland trade pours in from the Turko-Mongol Khanates as far as Bukhara. Among these travelers, an imperial envoy led by Pasha Arpad as-Saghir continues to live in the imperial court of the Ming Dynasty. The navy is greatly stengthened, building on the impressive navy of Bayezid II years earlier. Trade continues in the Indian Ocean, and we ask the Sultanate of Bengal to trade. Admirals Aydin Reis and Iskandar Asha command the two main navies operating in easern Mediterranean near Syria. Scouting operations on the fortifications of Kyrenia report daily. The navies of Oruc Reis and Hayreddin Barbarossa are stationed further west, protecting the Ottoman possessions in Algeria and Tunisia. Two additional fleets remain in ports in the Aegean Sea. The aged Caliph Al-Mustamsik falls ill and dies, and is succeeded to the Holy office by his son Yazid IV. Meanwhile, the 70,000 troops of Mehmed continue to invade Persia through Azerbejian, with help from the forces of Georgia, while Hasan's army of 60,000 continues to occupy cities in Mesopotamia as far as the Persian Gulf. The Ottomans will be willing to make peace with Ismail if they are allowed to annex all of Mesopotamia as far as the Zaragos Mountains. The forts and fortifications in eastern Europe are continuously improved to deter invasion from Hungary. A system of universal education continues to expand across Anatolia, teaching young men the latest knowledge of science, mathematics, and literature.
 * Colony of Algiers: Governed by Aruj Barbarossa, Algiers improves its infrastructure and increases trade across the Sahara, as well as with the European nations of France and Navarre. The military stands at 12,000, with an additional 7000 on loan from the Sultan.
 * Khanate of Crimea: Ruled by Mehmed Giray, the Khanate continues to increase its overland trade. Fortifications are built up to protect them from Muscovy. The port of Sevastapol is built up to create an independent navy. The Khanate invites Shahgali, the last Khan of Kazan, to come and live in the city of Kiev, continuing to represent his people in exile for the Horde. The military is greatly strengthened to protect against attack from Muscovy or Poland. Crimea invites the Khazakh Khanate to participate in the Kievan Horde
 * Oman's Sultan proposes a deal, in which Oman offers to take Shiites and Ibadis that the Ottomans do not wish to deal with.
 * The Ottomans agree to the deal, but at the moment there are not many Shia in the Empire
 * Bengal Dip: We accept the trade offer. 
 * Bukhara:Economy and military improves in the Bukhara Empire, Mercantile trade and caravan travelers transverse across the state, as well as exporting and importing many commodities to many distant lands. We begin to work on urbanize Bukhara by have spending artiest and other important people to the city.Men between 18- 37 are forced into the army and are trained for war. We begin to mobilize our armies using mongol horse back and turkish battle tactics pushing into Persia (of 20,000) aiming for the cities of Merv,Nishabur, and Herat killing and slaying enemies on horse back or using huge human wave attacks for anyone opposing us,where their heads are chopped off and placed in one mass grave, with Kochkunju Muhammad bin Abul-Khayr Khan leading his men.Children 13 -18 are thought how to fight for the nation and ones with a bright future are brought to better military schools to be train as Shock troops for four more years.We send 40,000 more troops to the Persian front,and beseigh the citites of Merv and Nishabur (with 20,000 troops),with no Persian military action we begin to occupy cities in the Kavir Desert and begin to send an army of 20,000 to Damavand riding on horse back. We are willing to make peace with Persia if they give us this or this(map will be out when done).
 * Savoy: We continue military buildup and economic expansion. Jeannot Gagne finishes work on the Statue of Venus and in the middle of Chambéry, he reveals the Statue to a huge audience, receiving a mixed response from the public. Pantaleone Natale's Una Bella Nuovo Mondo, continues to slowly slowly gains popularity among various French-speaking Savoyards, and even spreads its popularity into neighbouring France and other nations bordering the north of Savoy. The Savoyard Golden Age continues, as Charles III continues to strengthen his power and work on various projects to make the current capital: Chambéry better than it was in the past. This allows our nation to focus on administrative matters first, and then on diplomatic ones as well. We decide to become an innovative nation to accelerate our progress.
 * ​Savoyard Diplomacy: We propose to send some of our best navigators to Portgual to obtain a better education than they would in Savoy.
 * Spain: Due to the constant arresting of people against the Catholic church, another 100 people are captured by the royal troops. Instead of kill them, we ship them to our colonies of the new world. Our troops find underground rooms and passages used by the revolting people against the Catholic church. What is found in these rooms are copies of Martin Luther's documents, weapons, and maps with targets of Catholic churches to burn down in the nation. With our ships reaching this area, called Central America, we find a food source called the cocoa bean. We trade with the Aztec technology for this new food source. With this new food source food we bring it back to the mother nation and sell it to all over Europe. Charles attends the crowning of his brother Ferdinand as Archduke of Austria. The king looks for people to marry, but wants to marry someone of the same noble statues of him. The people in his nation are not what he is looking for.
 * Hispaniola: On the island, we continue to explore the inland forests. Along the coast of the island port cities are still developing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christianity.
 * Cuba: On the island, we continue to explore the inland forests. Along the coast of the island port cities are still developing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Bahamas: Along the coast of the island port cities are still developing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Jamaica: Along the coast of the island port cities are still developing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Puerto Rico: Along the coast of the island port cities are still developing. More ships are being built, so that we can send all the resources found on the island can be used by people in our home nation. Our troops try to work with the natives by trading with them to show that they are not taking advantage of the natives helping the colonists. Farms are beginning to get bigger with each year of planting. Monasteries are continuing to be built to convert the natives of the land to Christian.
 * Kingdom of Naples: To the north we still close of our borders to everyone. Outpost are continuing to be be made to the north, so that troops with firearms can attack invaders to the land from a distance. Farming continues to go well in the nation. More ships are being built for trade purposes.
 * Kingdom of Sicily: Farming is doing fine within the nation. More ships are being made for trading purposes.
 * Kingdom of Hungary: The Kingdom of Hungary is celebrating its one year anniversary of the new ruler of Louis II of the Jagiellon Dynasty. The Kingdom of Hungary focuses in on its administrative mission statement to help further trade from the influx and increase in trade in Eastern Europe as well as help maintain its alliances. With one of the largest standing armies in Europe, with 30,000 armed soldiers in the borders, the Hungarians put the military maintenance on the top tier to maintain but improve the army, bumping their size to 35,000. The Hungarians agree to the Ottomans seven year peace treaty. There's a growing of Martin Luther's teachings among some of the nobility, due to the diplomats and traders coming from Northern Europe.
 * Württemberg: We officially announce Princess Anna's betrothal to Prince Georg of Bavaria. The couple meet for the first time this year and introduced to each other. There are celebrations throughout the realm to celebrate Anna's betrothal. Meanwhile, young Prince Christoph begins his tutelage, training to become Duke Ulrich's successor.
 * Religion: Duke Ulrich declares his and his family's conversion to the Lutheran faith and announces that Württemberg will have its borders open for Martin Luther should he need protection from Catholic forces. The Duke immediately begins having the entire realm converted; reformed missionaries are invited to spread the faith in Württemberg.
 * Württemberg OOC: Just for future reference: I did some further reading and found that Ulrich already had two children: Anna and Christoph, who are now aged six and foyr, respectively; Sabina in 1515 had already fled Ulrich's court, returning to Bavaria. Working retroactively, Anna will be betrothed to the Georg von Hegnenberg, as per Bavaria's initial request in 1517.
 * Moldavia: Bogdan III's reforms to the government are almost done, with efficiency being increased and more income being made. A new school in Suceava, the capital, is established to train bureaucrats in the affairs of the state. Infrastructure is continued to be improved, roads between Suceava and other settlements are being expanded. The military, consisting of 15,000 men, guards our borders and towns. With an economic agreement concluded with Wallachia, Bogdan III hopes to expand our relations with the fellow Romanian state and eventually merge to create a unified Romanian kingdom. Trade continues with European and Ottoman merchants. OOC: Moldavia is not listed in the new tiers.
 * Rhodes Dip: Prince Philippe I would like King Bogdan III to consider the idea of marrying one of his daughters/sisters/nieces (we do not know the actual members of your family) to him, as he is searching for a powerful alliance by marriage.
 * Moldavian Diplomacy: Voivode Bogdan III agrees to marry one of his daughters to Prince Philippe I of Rhodes, to begin an alliance.
 * Kabulistan: Babur goes into a rage on hearing of the Sistan disobedience and arrogance. "Tribal Chiefs do not dictate to the heir of Khans!" came the voice of the Padshah, none of his generals eager to meet his eye. Within the month the army Babur had been grooming for Indian conquest will taste first blood. Informing Bukhara and Persia of his intention to seize Seistan he wastes no time in marching his soldiers, already assembled at the border into Sistan. 15,000 warriors equpped with firearms from the Ottoman Empire and Babur's pet, the Bronze Cannon that fired boulders a mile across the clearing raged across Seistan. Babur allows his soldiers to raid the smaller villages, inspiring tales of the 'Mongols' or as the Persians would call them, the 'Mughals' and their horrific violence. WIth Haozdar in sight Babur dispatches a final envoy to the leaders of Seistan, join the Timurid banners, or face a siege. The barrel of the bronze monstrosity aims towards the castle of Haozdar, awaiting an answer. (NPC responce required.) In his place Babur appointed his eleven year old heir as dei facto regent, while in reality his stead was counciled by seasoned veterans. This first glimpse of Humanyun as a potential successor inspires the Timurid followers to invest in the idea of a nation. Whilst at war, Kabul recieves word from Tibet of potential trade, and the regency council accepts in Babur's place.
 * Sistan Tribals (RNG 1-3; 1=success, 3=very fail) not only reject the Kabuli offer, but sends for aid from tribals in Balochistan, of which some join, fearing both dishonor and future Kabuli expansion.
 * Kabul's  leader Babur, being rejected a peaceful settlement and watching the envoys scurry south accepts their answer of defiance. Babur orders his canon to begin firing on the city and for his men to prepare to storm it should the walls collapse.
 * Swiss Confederacy: The message of Evangelicalism spreads through the Swiss Confederacy quickly. The clergy and some of the uneducated in Swiss approve of the message, though the governments of Switzerland universally dislike the idea of Evangelicalism, believing it will only lead to ignorance and corruption in the church. Almost all lieus ban him from entering their borders by the end of the year, but he is allowed to continue preaching in Zürich for the time being. In the meantime, the Vorort of 1519 meets in Schwyz. They vote on an alliance with Milan, which is denied by a narrow vote (5/13 in favor), though the various lieus in Switzerland offer trade deals and mercenary deals with Milan. They also discuss banning Ulrich Zwingli from Swiss borders, the result of which will be announced in the next Vorort. The economy of the Swiss Confederacy swells. Trade with various Italian states has boosted the Swiss economy, in addition to Switzerland being a haven to both Protestants and Catholics at the moment. In the meantime, several lieus of Switzerland increase their standing armies, while mercenary training is undergone for many mercenaries-to-be.


 * Genoese Diplomacy: We accept the Swiss request to work closely from last year and offer Zwingli and his followers asylum if Switzerland expels the Evangelicals.
 * Milanese Dip: We, too, offer Ulrich Zwingli asylum and/or safe passage through Milan to get to Genoa.
 * Ayutthaya:  We continue trade with the Portuguese and start deepening Samrong and the Thap Nang canals so Bigger Boats can better navigate the canals. Due to recent Khmer reinforcements arriving near our borders, we continue to reinforce our borders. VWe continue building Buddhist temples across the country.  After the arrival of Portuguese diplomats and envoys we urge merchants to trade with the Portuguese. We gain interest in Portuguese firearms and request trade for firearms.


 * Oman: Expansion of the navy continues as it can now be run more efficiently by slaves, and army expansion continues stabily as slaves are incorporated into the military, but are divided by race and religion to subvert organization. The Sultan also passes an edict for the government to buy female slaves, force conversion to Ibadi Islam, and then release to boost the population. The population is also aided by the new wealth from the slave trade, as well as the limited deportation of non-Sunnis from the Ottomans. Expansion of territory continues, 8px along the North Coast and 6px along the South Coast, and the Socotra Islands are seized and occupied. The native Nestorians of Socotra are treated fairly, though they must pay the jizya, however new roads and the expansion of their port sees new wealth flow into to the point that it sates the natives.
 * Oman annuls the alliance with Persia, seeing the near-exploding ally as a liability, though the Shah is sent a fine ivory carving as a gift. A trade deal is offered to Khmer, slaves for lumber.


 * Duchy of Ferrara: The programs of expansion and improvement, although increased funding continues, for the universities in Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio Emilia come to an end, although the number of students from throughout Europe coming for education continues to increase. Coffee becomes quite popular throughout the Duchies during the year. The Duke continues funneling money into the patronization of many Ferraresi artists and writers. He also commissions the famous Venetian painter Tiziano Vecelli to paint a portrait of him, so that he could display it within his palace in Ferrara. Administrative improvements across the realm continues to increase the amount of money entering the state's coffers. The Duke emphasizes trading with Genoa over Venice and other surrounding nations.
 * Ferraresi Diplomacy: The Duke's alliance offer to France stands.
 * Duchy of Milan: After successful negotiations with France, The Exiled Duke Maximilian Sforza returns to the Duchy to once more become its Ruler. Diplomats from any nation are welcome to trade. Cultural expansions are felt with funding into Milan University and trade coming from abroad, Economic prosperity continues. The teachings of Ulrich Zwingli are felt to be intriguing to the people of Milan, however both the people and Duke remain firmly Catholic. Word of Genoa’s attempt of Vassalisation is met with mixed feelings. Although the promise of greater wealth is promising, The Duke wishes to stay as Autonomous as possible, Diplomats are sent to Genoa in order to discuss Milan’s Sovereignty. In the meantime, Mercenaries are recruited and trained and great Military improvements are performed. In particular the Milanese Cavalry is tripled.
 * Rhodes Dip: Prince Philippe I come to Milan during his tour in Europe to negotiate a trade agreement. The Prince would like to remind the Duke that Rhodes is a strategic trade post, especially if you don't want to deal will the Ottoman or the Merchant Republics.
 * Milanese Dip: The Duke now knowing this, asks his friend Prince Philippe for a trade agreement between the two states.
 * Joseon: A series of reforms begin as King Jungjong seeks to establish a self-reliant, powerful Korea capable of defending itself from a hostile China and a unified Japan. Neo-Confucianism, which promotes obedience to the state, is made the official state ideology. In addition to this, the Korean government promotes academic achievement, innovation, artistry, and Korean nationalism. The use of Hanja is heavily discouraged and is banned in formal situations. Hangul is declared the sole official script and is used to teach adults how to read and write. The rigid, hereditary, caste-based system known as the bone rank system is abolished to prevent power struggles between the aristocratic elite and the Korean monarchy and to establish equal opportunities for Koreans of different socioeconomic classes. The production of paper bills is restricted to prevent hyperinflation, and external trade is limited to, stop a disastrous outflow of precious metals and an inflow of foreign ideas. The mass-production of gunpowder weapons begins and Korean scientists flirt with the prospect of weaponised fireworks.Compulsory military service is enacted for all able-bodied men (excluding members of the government or nobility).
 * I said no to guns for you... -Feud
 * Uncrossing this. Korea has a long history of gunpowder weaponry that in no way stems from Europe. Producing cannons and rockets is entirely plausible.-Kras
 * Mass production is the issue im having with this, not their ability to actually make a few. Mass production seems ridiculous when HE HAS NO ENEMIES. Even if he has any, Joseon has nearly always been protected by china and hence not really needed to have extreme military focus -Feud
 * True. "Mass" should crossed out.-Kras
 * Tibet enjoys its freedom from political turmoil, as Genden Gyatso calls for a meeting of the heads of all Tibetan Buddhist sects, the Kagyupa, Sakya and Nyingma, in an effort to resolve doctrinal differences. Under considerable pressure, the heads of these schools agree to acknowledge Genden Gyatso as their successors and accept his jurisdiction over all monks in Tibet. They also affirm his Lhasa Doctrine, which states, among other things, that practical education can be a form of monastic devotion, as well as a new addendum, stating that all those who follow certain Buddhists practices, even if they consider themselves another religion, can be considered Buddhists. At the end of this meeting, Genden Gyatso assumes the title of Dalai Lama, Lama meaning Guru and Dalai meaning "Ocean", a word which recalls Genghis Khan's name; this title is extended to his predecessors. Lhasa is promoted as a centre of learning, with religious debates being hosted, although the primary focus remains on practical skills. More cannon are cast, as well as increasing numbers of smaller hand cannon which infantry can use on foot. Troops are moved to the southern borders to aid Bengal in its war if necessary. Meanwhile, in the monastery dover which the Dalai Lama has jurisdiction, Tibet is promoted to the sole liturgical language. In northern Ava, the allied Kachin rulers are armed and supported, with the garrisons strengthened.
 * Bradenburg:  Elector Joachim I Nestor passes away in a hunting accident leaving Bradenburg to his underage son Joachim II Hector von Hohenzollern. With the young boy only 12 a regency is established with members of the nobility, his mother, and to the surprise of many the reformist Josel von Rosheim a sympathizer to Martin's thesis and an advocate for the German and Polish Jews living within the HRE. Joachim's formal education is speed up to prepare him for his duties. Changes in military tactics begin to occur after news of the efficiency of the Hapsburg Tercios reach the ears of the new regency. more firearms are produced to try and replcate this effect leading to a small increase in certain areas of production (military as primary focus). Certain italian and southern european ideas and artistic movements interest members of the nobility and these select nobles become patrons of Italian and German artists (administrative as secondary). Seeing the rising power of Poland the regency look to strengthen ties with their neighbors accepting Saxony's offer of alliance, and seeking closer ties with the Teutonic Order, as well as Hungary and Bohemia.. Efforts to improve productivity of crops also starts.


 * ​Muscovy Dip: Muscovy requests to hire out military advisors from Brandenburg to facilitate the trade of ideas and technology. particularly with interest to the Tercio which has reported to be so successful
 * Bohemia: After a discussion with the alliance, we fear Brandenburg is aiming to take over Bohemia, which it could lead in a devastation. We also saw the shock of Maxilliam's death, as we summoned to elect the new emperor of HRE. The military is hiring more troops while recruiting them, which it could increase normally and slightly. The fortifications, based on closer borders, are built. Although we saw Bavaria as well building the fortifies in our closer borders, as it might there be a clash for both.
 * Maldives: Sets out to explore the Chagos Archipelago after hearing tales from Portuguese sailors, with intent of building a port on one of the islands once found. The Sultan decides to convert his nation back to Buddhism, punishable by death if caught practicing Islam, and starts repairs on the old stupas. The Sultan changes his title back to the old title of Kattiri. The Kattiri Kalu Mohamed sends back a diplomat with a trader from The Ottoman Empire and asks for an Alliance. The diplomat in Bengal still awaits a response.
 * ​Bengal Dip: We accept.
 * The Ottomans accept an alliance
 * Sultanate of Delhi: Economy, infrastructure and military improve. Population continues to grow very fast. More residential buildings, cultural and public buildings, commercial buildings and mining plants are built. Roads and farms are built or improved and cities continue to grow. Education is improved and more educational buildings are built. Continues fortifying its borders by building new fortresses and armies are placed in fortresses. Primary focus on militaristic and secondary focus on administrative continues reaching. Delhi asks Maldives, Persia, Ottoman Empire and all other Indian states for trade arrangement. Asks Vijayanagara and Persia for alliance. Continues invading Bikaner and currently occupied half of the target country. Also invades Gondwana among with Bengal, marking it easier to be destroyed and divide.
 * Sweden: King Gustav I refuses the Danish demand to abdicate and instead declares Sweden independent from the Kalmar Union with the support of the Riksrad.  He raises an army of 20,000, consisting of troops from the Royal Army, noble levies and some German mercenaries, and marches South to meet any Danish army that seeks to reclaim Sweden. Our small navy is put to sea and is ordered to raid the island of Gotland and any Danish ships that they come across. In Stockholm the port continues to be expanded and more ships our built for the navy. Our borders continue to expand into Northern Sweden and Finland.
 * Ostland Diplomacy: We ask our ally if they require our support in their liberational wars, while we secretly propose them in case we enter the war and win to split the rest of the Kalmar Union, with them taking Norway and us taking Denmark.
 * Ostland: King Walter I of house Plettenberg marries to Valentina of house Orlov, sealing our alliance (defensive coalition) with the Grand Duchy of Moscovy. The couple meet for the first time this year and introduced to each other. There are celebrations throughout the realm to celebrate King Walter I marriage with Queen Valentina I, even through King Walter I, being a modest men, was about to to restrict celebrations, with his advisors impel him not to do so, doing that would be seen as shortcoming by his loyal subjects. Queen Valentina I is announced to be pregnant later that year. Riga and Tallinn experience a flourish due to the inscrease in trade with the rest of the world, with our trade fleets bringing many spices and with many people migrating (part of the Ostsiedlung) to our lovely capital and many new landmarks being build like a new colossal magnificent Cathedral of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, with its dome made out of gold. Grand palace of Riga is finnished, a immense golden palace, becoming the King's main residence. Toompea Castle and Riga Castle are reassigned for military use, as barracks of the army. Livonian Order is reorganized as vassal of the Kingdom of Ostland, while some consider them a mercenary company now. However, some of them leave their order to join the Teutonic Knights, while a few travel farther to reach the Knights Hospitallers in Rhodes. Construction of watch posts and fortresses along the Polish-Lithuanian border finnish. Infrastructure is improve throughout the nation. The Ostland army is around 20.000 men strong and the navy about 40 ships. We continue researching new cannons, muskets and other modern weapons, while also trying to improve gunpowder. Martin Luther's Evangelical interpretations and rejection of Catholic excesses gains momentum amongst the people of Ostland, while many Livonian order knights and nobles start supporting Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. However, due to our agreement with the most holy Pope Leo X we denounce Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses as heretical, while a law is made imprisoning anyone that possesses Martin Luther's heretical theses or preaches favoring them. However, that law is not applied on basis, being mostly used exemplary. Ostsiedlung/German eastward expansion continues, as we encourage Germans, Dutch, Flemish, Danes, Swedes, Norse to settle in our realm in order to promote the development of the less populated portions of their realm, so we provide them an incentive to immigrate giving them huge privilages. We also try to assimilate them into the local German culture, seeking to enstrenghten our country, by enacting many measures to reduce the use of their mother tongue, while trying to not be too oppressive, while we also try to assimilate the locals, too (Livonians, Estonians). Our deep water merchant fleet sells its commodities all over Europe, with many captains making a fortune, while Chinese porcelain and spices become a trend all over Europe. We invest in Triangle Trade, buying slaves for useless and outdated tech and trinkets, without the natives knowing that, using our deep water fleet, both merchant ships and warships, while we also create a colony in OTL southernmost Greenland seeking to use Greenland as a port to expand to the New World, building a town and a port. Duke Pyotr Nikolayevich of house Wrangel being King Walter I most loyal vassal is send to coordinate the efforts for the construction and the continued fuction of the new colony, being appointed Governor. We change our country's policy to a diplomatic focus, thus administrative matters become secondary priority, while exploration becomes a priority. 
 * Ostland Diplomacy: Being a German nation (rulling class), we ask to join the HRE, as we were once a member of the HRE from 1207 to 1215, while we also ask to become an elector of the HRE, thinking ourselfs of equal power/size/strength/importance to the electors of the HRE. Many enticing brides and promises are made to the ones responcible for the decision (the king is dead so, are the electors the ones responcible for HRE diplomacy?) to sway them to accept our demands. (MOD RESPONSE)
 * England: On the urging of the King, Sir Thomas More publishes a pamphlet denouncing the heresy of Luther and has it distributed to the people, in hopes of discouraging them from turning toward his heresy. King Henry turns his eye toward the continent, but whether he seeks peace or war depends on what the people of the continent do. more later