Ethiopian Empire (Principia Moderni II Map Game)

The Ethiopian Empire (የኢትዮጵያ ንጉሠ ነገሥት መንግሥተ), is a nation located in East Africa.

Rule of Fekadu I (1450–1479)
In 1450, Emperor Jara Fekadu began centralizing power into his hands to gain greater control over the empire, and keep the ras' of Ethiopia from gaining to much power and toppling him. He ordered the expansion of the empire to the north toward the Red Sea to re-establish Ethiopia's lost naval might when it was known as the Aksumite Empire. In 1452, the emperor ordered the invasion of Adal, taking 750 square kilometres of land within the first few months. In the process, Jara Fekadu made the tactical decision to send his most rebellious ras' into combat to die in the fighting, thus coming up with the perfect way to gain more power for himself. In 1454, Ethiopia captured Harer, and gained 900 kilometers of lands for themselves in the process. Numerous castles were constructed in the north that same year to deter a possible Mamluk invasion from the north.

In 1456, Emperor Fekadu authorised the reconstruction of the port city of Massawa, and in the east, gained 1,000 kilometres of land. The capture of the Adal capital in 1457 was major blow to the sultanate, and the fleeing of the sultan himself the year before spelled certain doom for the surviving Adal forces. Fekadu ordered the colonization of Eritrea in 1458, with establishment of numerous settlement in the region. However, in the conquered regions of Adal, the emperor orders the mass culling Muslims in those lands, killing of thousands, and sending Imperial officials there to begin overseeing the cultural assimilation of the surviving inhabitants. The empire expands its road system that year, linking important cities such as Massawa to Asmara. In 1461, the Ethiopians battle against the Adal forces once again, this time bringing gunpowder weapons into fight, and slaughtering many of the Adal warriors.

Fekadu I ordered the centralization of the economy to better control the spread of wealth, and increase the standard of living for his subjects. In 1462, the imperial armies pushed deeper into Adal, making gains there and spreading Christianity as they went. The Ethiopians set their sights on establishing a second port in Eritrea, and began a second colonization effort to do so. The emperor announces later that year Ethiopia would re-organize its system of trade, and most importantly, begin missionary work to spread the news of the One True Faith to the tribal lands that surrounded the empire. In 1464, the empire introduced cannon purchased from Europe into its armies, and continued the expansion of the road system and schooling in Ethiopia. The war with Adal went well that year, though in 1466, the royal court grew restless with the then 14-year long conflict, and demanded a swift end to the fighting.

This resulted in the emperor's request to seek a peaceful end to the war, and begin preparations to marry his eldest daughter off the Adal sultan. That same year, the imperial road system and the education programs in the empire were established, allowing swift movement throughout Ethiopia, and the access of general education for the peasantry. In 1469, the Ethiopians officially ceased their offensive in Adal, and sought the establish Adal as a vassal of the empire. The nearly 20-year conflict was draining Ethiopia's coffers and manpower, and was interfering with the emperor's ability to modernize his nation. Colonization efforts in Eritrea, however, were continuing without halt, with the colonization of 1500 kilometers of land, and establishment of dozens of towns and villages to feed the region's new inhabitants.

That same year, the Ethiopians began work on building a navy for the empire, one which they had not had since the age of Axum. In 1471, the empire built a cannon foundry outside the capital city of Gondar, allowing it to produce artillery locally and cheaply. Also, Fekadu finally married his daughter off to the sultan of Adal once she had come of age. In 1473, the Emperor founded the University of Axum, and expanded the empire deeper into Eritrea. The empire continued to expand until 1475, when the Ethiopians amassed a huge army for their invasion of Adal. The Omanis threatened to invade Ethiopian, though the rest of the Caliphate couldn't decide what to do, allowing Ethiopia to establish a naval force the next year. In the last year of his reign, Emperor Fekadu I managed to establish an alliance with the Zulu, linking the two nations through trade.

Rule of Jara I (1479–1503)
Upon the death of his father, Iyasu Jara inherited the throne, and began work on continuing his father's modernization efforts. The Emperor continued the development of a navy, officially establishing the Imperial Ethiopian Navy as military force of the empire in 1479. In 1480, the Ethiopians received a delegation from the Zulu wishing to continue their trade alliance. Two years later in 1482, the Ethiopians established permanent relations with the Zulu Kingdom, bringing the two empires close together despite the vast distance between them. The empire continued to expand into Eritrea as time passed, bringing the Christian faith with as they went. In 1485, the Ethiopians sent diplomats to Oman and Yemen to establish trade links with them, yet no response wa ever given.

In 1486, the Ethiopians were contacted by the Europeans hailing for the lands of Naples, bringing many gifts for their Christian brothers upon reaching their lands the next year. The Neapolitan explorers opted to remain in Ethiopia with the blessings of Emperor Jara I, and sent news of their work back home. In 1487, the Ethiopians began another wave of aggressive colonization in Eritrea, spreading the Christian faith more vigorous than before. In 1489, the Emperor commissioned Ethiopian subjects to begin exploring the lands to west of the empire, and learn of the riches they could gain. Many churches were built in Eritrea that years, aiding to spread the one true faith in the lands. In 1493, the Ethiopians began their third invasion of Adal, once again seeking to crush the Muslim kingdom.

The Ethiopians send their first diplomatic envoy to Europe in 1494, and begin in full their invasion of Adal. In 1497, the Ethiopians under Jara I gain assistance in their efforts from Hindustan, and open a trade route between the two empires. The Ethiopians begin blockading the ports of Adal in 1498, starving many of the subjects living there. The trade route between Ethiopia and Hindustan from the last years begins to see the delivery of spices from Hindustan to Ethiopia. The Ethiopians and Hindustani forces work closely together to combat the Adalese forces, and in 1501, saw a number of major victories for their side. In 1502, the Ethiopians continued their march into Adal with few gains. With the war with the Adal slowing down, the Ethiopians began colonization of Eritrea once more. In 1503, Emperor Jara I passed away in his sleep.

Rule of Iyasu I (1503–1537)
In the nine years following the death of Emperor Iyasu Jara, Amduka Iyasu becomes the new ruler, but is too young to lead, leaving the Crown Council in charge of the nation. Over those years, they do little to expand the empire. However, in 1512, Ethiopia expands its borders by 1200 sq km into the east, and move to take Adalese territory as they moved into Adal. However, Adal uses its connections with the Caliphate to warn Ethiopia against further against toward them. Ethiopia does not heed the rump state's threats, and 1520, sends troops into Adal. The next year, the Emperor commissions Ras Alemayehu Belay to search for the island of Madagascar, and bring word of its location home. The Caliphate deems Ethiopia violent despite its own history of destroying entire cultures, and increases its influence in Adal between the years of 1521 and 1529.

When word of the dubious actives of the Caliphate reach the Ethiopian people, they are disgusted and demand war. However, contrary to the people's wishes, the Emperor agrees not to invade Adal again, which angers the people. Though, he does expand and modernize the military further instead, with the navy being the focus of his efforts. The Caliphate, however, continues to spread its tentacles into the region, angering the populace, though this anger is replaced by joy when Ras Alemayehu returns from his journey, bring the news the Emperor had long awaited for. The location of Madagascar is revealed in 1529, and the Emperor calls for the island's colonization by his people, with the first thousand colonists sent to tame the island. In 1530, the colony of Koräbta Däset is established with Ras Alemayehu as the first colonial administrator of the colony.

The colony is expanded 250 sq km that same year, with the priests converting the local natives as they move outwards. In 1532, Koräbta Däset is expanded by 200 sq km, and the colonists move out to aggressively enforce the conversions of the population, aiding the priests as they move. The Imperial lands in Africa are expanded by 1500 sq km in 1533, as the armies march into Sudan in the west. Koräbta Däset is expanded by 250 sq km that year as well, with many conversions too. In 1535, the colony of Koräbta Däset is expanded by 250 sq km, and the Diocese of Yämaygoda Wädäb is established in the colony. The explorer Galal Negussu begins his search for new lands on the other side of the Indian Ocean, taking 300 people with him. The next year, he establishes a trading post on Sri Lanka before continuing his journey eastward.

Reign of Foul I & The Dark Ages (1537–1585)
The short-lived reign of Emperor Foul I saw a brief war with Adal that saw the intervention of meddling Caliphate. The Caliphate vowed to defend the Adalese infidels from Ethiopia, stating that Ethiopia was a "rampaging and aggressive" empire, despite the fact that the Caliphate itself had invaded dozens of nations in the past, and was doing so even at the time of the war. In 1538, the Caliphate invaded Ethiopia, killing many of her soldiers and destroying many of the naval vessels that had guarded the Red Sea for decades. During the invasion, a Caliphate force was sent to the Etihopian colony of Koräbta Däset, where it obliterated the Ethiopian guards and killed most of the population, committing the act of genocide. Foul fled the nation and never returned, while Dejazmach Ezra Haregewoin fought bravely to defend the capital, though he ultimately died.

During the next 46 years of Caliphate oppression, Ethiopians suffered under the iron fisted rule of their conquerers, who attempted forcibly convert the populace. The Ethiopians were freed in the end when the Caliphate fell too pieces as its attempts to control the known world came to a pathetic end, and the Caliphate forces in Ethiopia scurried away to protect to remaining ashes of their failed empire. Though Ethiopia's military might was exusted by the occupation, it was rebuilt using new technologies learned over the many decades before Caliphate dominiance. Also, the Ethiopian people remained defiant in the face of Caliphate religious oppression, seeing them preach the One True Faith to the land around it. The empire was reclaimed by Foul I's eldest son not killed in the occupation, Mideskso Foul.

Major Cities
Gondar is the imperial capital, and the holy city of Ethiopia is Axum, Other cities include Adafa, Lalibela, Wofla, Fremona, and Massawa. Harar captured after more than twenty years of fighting, and currently used as the administrative capital of the Harari province. The colony of Borona is home to a single city which serves as a major port and industrial center. The cities of Adal have since fallen to the Ethiopian armies, providing them with many new homes and slaves for the empire's growth.

Allies

 * Zulu Kingdom (since 1473)
 * Hindustan (since 1497)
 * Kingdom of Naples (since 1486)
 * Kingdom of Bavaria (since 1523)

Enemies

 * Adal Caliphate
 * The Caliphate ( DESTROYED )

Culture
The majority of the population is Christian, an speak Amharic as their first language. Ge'ez is still used for writing, but has fallen out favor in recent years, though the clergy still uses it for writing religious texts.

Government
The empire is ruled by an autocratic monarch. There is the Emperor who is the head of state and government, and then there is the Dejazmach, who oversees military operations in the name of the Emperor.

List of Emperors

 * Emperor Jara Fekadu (1450-1479)
 * Emperor Iyasu Jara (1479-1503)
 * Emperor Amduka Iyasu (1503-1537)
 * Emperor Foul Amduka (1537-1538)
 * Caliphate Governors (1538-1585)
 * Emperor Mideskso Foul (1589-1598)
 * Emperor Iyasu Midesko (1598-1621)

List of Dejazmachs

 * Kiros Bayissa (1450-1477)
 * Milion Sirak (1477-1501)
 * Yifter Yekuno-Amlak (1501-1532)
 * Ezra Haregewoin (1532-1538)
 * Caliphate Governors (1538-1585)
 * Fesseha Eskinder (1589-1600)
 * Eskinder Taddese (1600-1617)

Koräbta Däset (ጥቁር ደሴት)
A colony established in 1530, located near OTL Ambanja on OTL Madagascar. Destroyed

History
The colony of Koräbta Däset was established in 1530 by Ras Alemayehu Belay, and a group of Ethiopian priests and explorer upon their commission to do so by Emperor Iyasu I. It was destroyed in 1538 by the Caliphate invaders who wiped out the Ethiopian colonist population, and placed its own in their place. No longer a colony of Ethiopia following the caliphate's collapse.

Major Cities

 * Yämaygoda Wädäb (የማይጎዳ ወደብ) - Destroyed

Culture
Now Arab colony. Ethiopian population wiped out by the Caliphate murdered.

Borona (ቦረና)
A colony established in 1606, located near OTL Port Hedland.