Merveilles du Monde (Map Game)

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

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

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

Important Pages

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

Nations

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

British Isles

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

Scandinavia

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

Iberia

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

Kingdom of France

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

ITALY

 * Republic of Ancona:
 * Papal States:
 * Republic of Genoa: User:ROCAMBOLER529
 * Kingdom of Naples: Th3 Legnd 27 (Talk) 14:00 October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Republic of Pisa:
 * Kingdom of Sicily:
 * Kingdom of Spoleto:
 * Republic of Venice: User:Ycasto

Italian Peninsula

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

Alpine States

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

Transalpine States

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

German States

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

Lowlands

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


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

Baltics

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

Poland

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

Russia

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

SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

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

ANATOLIA & CAUCASUS

 * Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (Ilkhan vassal): 77topaz (talk) 21:33, October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Beyelik of Ankara:
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: User:DRAFIGO13
 * Beyelik of Eshref:
 * Kingdom of Georgia:
 * Vilayet of Gurjistan (Ilkhan vassal): User:Candiesrgood
 * Beyelik of Karaman:
 * Beyelik of Kastamont:
 * Beyelik of Lâdik:
 * Beyelik of Menteşe:
 * Sultanate of Rum (Ilkhan vassal): 77topaz (talk) 21:33, October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Beyelik of Sahib Ataids:
 * Empire of Trebizond:

INDIA

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

CENTRAL ASIA

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

Nepal

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

East Asia

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

Indochina

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

Indonesia

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

North Africa

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

East Africa

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

West Africa

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

Peruvian Civilizations

 * Chimu - User:Mato0900

Australasia

 * Maori Ancestors:

1295
WELCOME TO MERVEILLES DU MONDE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'''The Majapahit are building an empire on the island of Java practically from scratch. After the fall of the Melayu Kingdom, Indonesia's rising power seemed to be the Singhasari Kingdom. In 1293, they challenged and beat a Mongolian invasion of Java, but the battle significantly weakened them, allowing Majapahit to seize their lands. Now, only 2 years after seizing the island of Java, Majapahit begins its expansion throughout Indonesia.'''
 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa" The Duke is Dead, Long live John II. John II being the Second son his father and the only live son left. His father was the Duke of Brabant who fought With County of Loon and many others to gain his fairly bought inheritance over the Duchy of Limburg and Hertogsrade. Although this was bad for with the standing of Holy Roman emperor. While at the same time creating the Brabantine way of both fighting and partying. With duke John I being famous for drinking together with all his subjects after battles and being a great Ruler during battle and afterwards. John the victorious' peacetime work has not to be forgotten he has not only earned prestige for Brabant and his dynasty, he has also centralised the state around Brussels. This change Made it so the Capital was now on the Zenne. Not only this he also Created a lot of Poems and Songs as he loved the joys of life while being true to Faith, The christian faith. With even his Death showing the life he led, one of joy. As John I died due to a wound which he got during a Tournament in France. John I being one of the greatest poets of his age and his lands, with his use of a language understood both by the Dietsch and German speakers of the empire although his love for the language east of the Rhine is clear. With Duke John II being the son of Duke John I and his second wife Margaretha van Dampierre, who was the Daughter of the Count of Flanders and Namur. This and all the other recent marriages and inheritance makes it so the house of Flanders has a lot of Connections to the Foreign Kings, Dukes and Counts.And with John's II Sister being the Wife of Henry VII of Luxembourg Who is a very important noble in the Holy realm. John II first act as Duke of Brabant, Limburg and Hertograde is creation of the Council of Brussels. Which is a Council where minor and mayor Nobles can go to give ideas, ask questions, go to trial. The option of trial is when there is a big dispute mostly under nobles which hasn't been able to solved on their own. In some cases the trials can also Represent lands and people against their protector noble. The Duke first act on matters of territory is to offer the prince-bishop of Utrecht 23 000 Brabantine pound for him and his successors to be Lord of Myerebeek.(mod Response) With this deal, the military of Utrecht could focus on their core territory and stop funding an undefendable plot of land, that has no value. Utrecht would also ease border tensions in the region. His majesty also ask to the lords of Mechelen if there is the possibility of building a minor mansion in the lands of Heyst ten Berge for his majesty as he wishes to have a location to admire at the lands from the mountain. for this Duke John II promises to employ Workers of Heyst so it becomes even more prosperous, with the investments the duke wants in the manor and town.(Mod Response)Workers even being set to work even now with the new look at the sea which has to be defended from with, cities like Antwerp and Brussels getting some streamlining of the rivers. Antwerp being invested in the most as it is the Brabantine access to the great English channel.
 * MOD RESPONSE: Interested in the revenue a scenic mansion could generate for Mechelen, the Lordship accepts John II's request to construct the Heyst ten Berge mansion. Perhaps a little too excited, a few members of the court attempt to draw plans for the mansion. They range from mathematically impossible to downright ugly, though the Lord's daughter draws up an absolutely stunning locale.
 * MOD RESPONSE: Archbishop Jan van Zyrick of Utrecht agrees to sell the title of Myerebeek to Brabant, on the condition that if his descendants should die out, the land would return to the Church.
 * Ui Neil: Domhnall mac Brian Ó Néill is restored to the throne of Tir Eoghain. Upon his restoration he intends to seek out a truce with the Earldom of Ulster and the Lordship of Ireland in general to cease raiding and pay tribute but is deposed again before he can make the offer and he is forced to flee to the Earldom of Ulster first before travelling to England and along with around 50 of his supporters who followed him forms a mercenary company recruiting some more fellow Gaelic soldiers which offer services to King Edward I (Mod response). In Ui Neil itself the new King Cuidightheach mac Brian Ó Néill who was brother of Domhnall launches cattle raids on the Earldom of Ulster and contests aggressively Hibero- Norman settlements of Ui Neil lands with attacks on settlements. Some small port facilities are made at Derry to allow ships to dock.
 * English Diplomacy: His majesty Edward I accepts the help of this Gaelic soldier, who sought reconciliation with the crown rather than petty revenge like so many of his peers. Especially with the situation in Scotland growing increasingly volatile, the crown's hold on Ulster is critical, now more than ever.
 * Yuan China: Temür Khan continues the extensive economic reforms of his predecessor to help reinvigorate the Chinese economy following the conquest of the empire more than two decades prior by Kublai Khan. New tax codes are instituted to ensure a fairer collection of state funds from the population, as well as reforming the manner in which the troops are paid. To combat the threat of hyperinflation within the economy, the emperor passes laws restricting the production of paper money to 250,000 individual bank notes per year per province over a seven-year period. All prints will only be given enough ink to fulfill the demand, and will be required to maintain strict quotas relating to the regulation of printing at their facilities. Unique stamps will be issues to each of the printers, as well as a unique type of ink that can reveal a counterfeit note when exposed to sunlight. The Mongol hosts residing within China proper are encouraged to settle down within the cities of the empire and integrate into the culture of the Chinese people, helping to curtail any major strife between the two ethnic groups of the land. While few wish to do so, some have migrated south to enjoy the luxuries and benefits of Chinese life and technology far from the steppes of Mongolia. Elsewhere, due to the devastating effects of Kublai's invasion of Vietnam, Temür acknowledges that more time is needed for the army and navy to recover from the consequences of that campaign, allowing for a complete overhaul of the military's operational doctrines in the south, and the recruitment of new manpower to replace the losses. Seeking to capitalize on this state of affairs, the emperor takes the opportunity to professionalize the armed forces, and completely rebuild the navy from scratch, allowing for a more effective means of projecting power throughout the East Asian region. Beginning with the army, while he acknowledges the tactical superiority of the Mongol forces inherited from his predecessor, Temür believes that there is more to be gained from developing a multi-ethnic army that draws upon all of the various peoples dwelling under his rule. Likewise, to encourage loyalty to the state and increase their morale, regular pay is introduced for all branches of the army, moving away from the mandatory service that his fore-bearers had maintained for centuries. For the purposes of better structuring the army, Temür calls upon some of the brightest military minds within China to help reorganize the army in a logical and practical manner that blends the best aspects of Chinese and Mongolian military doctrine into a singular command system. To this end, the decimal-based military units of the Mongolians are utilized for the new army, with units divided into groups of 10(shí), 100 (bǎi), 1,000 (qiān), and 10,000 (wàn) soldiers each, while the traditional Chinese provinces and commanderies are organized into military regions governed by a civil magistrate and a military officer, both of whom are directly appointed by the emperor. Each of the military regions will be assigned a number of wàn based on regional and military need, while campaigning armies will be designated as jūntuán, or "legions", under the command of a professional military officer appointed to the role by the emperor. Lowe-ranking soldiers of the first rank are to be compensated in the paper currency of the empire at a rate of 100 wén per month of service, while higher ranking officers of the lowest rank are to be paid 1 guàn per month of service. Regarding the reconstruction of the navy, the emperor commissions the building of new warships to replace those lost in the war with the Vietnamese a decade prior, as well as the recruitment of sailors to help man them once they have been completed. Sailors will be paid at a rate of 70 wén per month of service, and 100 wén while out at sea in active service. It is hoped that these reforms will help to encourage enlistment in the new military of the empire, while ensuring a measure of discipline now that pay is to be provided at regular monthly intervals. By the end of the year, approximately 150,000 "New Army" soldiers have been trained to fill the provincial garrisons in the south, while the old units are transferred north and west to garrison the less hostile quarters of the empire. In the regions of Mongolia and Turkestan, fortresses are rebuilt and garrisoned with old style troops, and their families moved out into the frontier territories to help encourage the Sinicization of the land and its integration into the wider empire of China. Due to the extensive depopulating of the region thanks to the previous campaigns of Genghis Khan and his successors, Temür Khan commits to the re-population of the conquered lands by relocating thousands of Chinese families to the area. He pairs them with local surviving families to help them learn how to cultivate the land and which crops are robust enough to flourish in the region. Likewise, the Chinese families are encouraged to share their culture and language with the locals, and share with them the benefits of accepting the Chinese way of life.
 * Kingdom of Portugal: A ship is sent with 500 men and 500 women to explore what waits across the ocean and settle upon any land they might find. [Mod Response Needed]. King Denis writes a beautiful Poem to his wife. He also wishes to buy some Naval Blueprints from Castilian [ Castilian Response Needed].
 * MOD RESPONSE: Even the best ships you could manage at the time could hold maybe a few hundred men at most. Regardless of the number, however, with little direction or goal, the crew mutinies and the ship is lost at sea. The family to whom the captain belonged is shunned in the Portuguese court.
 * Kingdom of Naples: With the Sicilian Uprising, Charles II amasses a Fleet of 30 galleys and an army of 20,000 Neapolitan Troops and begins an Invasion of Sicily with Charles II landing in Messina while the Neapolitan Fleet prepares to engage with the Aragonese Navy. With the Invasion of Sicily underway, Charles II requests an alliance with the Venetians promising to support them against the Byzantines (Venetian Response Needed). Meanwhile Charles II also requests the support of the Papacy and the Kingdom of France as a means to enforce the Treaty of Anagni they signed as Charles II also sends a message to the King of Aragon, James II asking for his support in crushing the rebellion as a means to uphold the treaty he signed as the Treaty stated that Aragon would support Naples in reclaiming Naples (French, Aragonese and Papal Response Needed). In order to speed up the process of reclaiming Sicily, Charles II also calls for the assistance of the Principality of Achaea in which is a de facto client state of the Kingdom of Naples (Achaean Response Needed). With this, Charles II continues his efforts in putting down the Sicilian Revolt and to restore order in the region.
 * Papal Response: The restoration of status quo is of paramount importance. He grants his favor to Naples in its quest to put down this rebellion.
 * French Response: no lmao
 * Achaean Response: Prince Florent of Hainaut personally leads his principality's levy to assist his suzerain's efforts.
 * Lordship of Milan: His Lord, Ottone Visconti passes this year on August 8, 1295. He is succeeded by his grandnephew Matteo Visconti. As lord, Matteo’s first act is to reorganize the military of Milan which had grown very lackluster and unimpressive over the last 10-15 years. He also begins to look to reorganize the economics of Milan. The first step of which is to find multiple trade partners within the HRE and/or Italy. Proposals are made to Genoa and Venice as well as any HRE state. (Mod response) (Venice Response) (Genoa Response). The Milanese also further expand their income by producing wool linen, as well as the large amounts of Merchant travel resulting in a somewhat new thought of Merchant banks. Matteo begins to prepare for a major fair to take place in 1297 for the 20th anniversary of the defeat of the Della Torre any and all are invited for this event, direct invitations are sent to the Pope, and the Lords of every North Italian nation, as well as major HRE people such as the Hapsburgs and Bohemia’s Lords. This is viewed as a major opportunity for an expansion of the Milanese markets as well as an opportunity to assist in the reorganization of the issues that are currently occurring in the HRE. Blacksmiths in Milan produce more iron plate than chain mail as it provides better protection for the wearer as well as requiring less physical labor. Matteo declares neutrality in the Sicilian conflict and requests all other northern powers to do the same and leave the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily to themselves. The divide between loyalty to the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor continues with debates occurring often among Matteo’s advisors as to the best course of action.
 * Duchy of Brescia: In Brescia the same debate launches as to whether loyalty to the pope or Holy Roman Emperor is more sensible. Travel between the two towns is slowly increasing as many merchants see an opportunity in Brescia for the ability to gain Milanese wares and products without having to deal with Lord Matteo directly who is viewed by many as an unknown rude man.
 * Mod Response: Piacenza is willing to act as a middle man between Milanese and Genoan trade. Situated between the two powers, Piacenza would seek to gain greatly from this deal. Montferrat and Verona also accept.
 * Italian Response: The Pope, Montferrat, and a couple other Italian states will not attend the anniversary, as the Geulph faction of Italy supports the Della Torre family.
 * Genoa Response: The Republic of Genoa is disposed to sign trade agreements with the Lordship of Milan. This will supply you with products imported from the Middle East and the Black Sea as long as a tax is paid for each merchandise with origin just mentioned. With the condition that the Lordship of Milan refuse from signing diplomatic &/or trade agreements with the Republic of Venice and strongly support the Ghibelline family of the HRE.
 * Milan response: The lordship replies stating that they will not put themselves on either side of the Venice Genoa war and thus do not accept the demands put forth.
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: King Henry II unveils a massive defensive plan, which will if enacted begin the beginning of constructions of massive castles overlooking each of the port cities. After heavy consultation and persuasion,the various nobles agrees to the law citing the need for more defenses. The plan is expected to take 20-30 years to complete but will be well worth it. This means that most of the military budget will go into constructing these castles.


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


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


 * Kingdom of Hungary: During the 1295th year of the lord, tragedy has struck the King Andrew and his family, his beloved wife Fenenna of Kuyavia passed away at the beginning of the year. While still in mourning his council advised him to take a new wife, preferably one of the Hungarian Oligarch’s daughters. He takes to wife Catherine, the daughter of the powerful magnate, Amadeus Aba. By the end of the year she is with child proving a fertile women of her young age. Most notably he arranges a betrothal between his daughter Elizabeth and the son of the Croatian Magnate Paul, Paul the younger. This move seems to secure the support of the ancient and influential Šubić family, and draws a key supporter from the Angevin claimants to the crown of Hungary. Notably Amadeus Aba campaign against the formerly rebellious magnate Ratos, increasing the size of his domain within Hungary capturing the land near the end of the year. Meanwhile the fortifications alongside the Mongol borders are strengthened under a surprisingly united front presented by the Magnates and the King, with new castles and outposts being built along with garrisons being placed. The king begins to build up his levies strength and moves to increases the defenses of Esztergom and his demesne.  Amadeus in the northwest continues to consolidate his power moving cautiously against the Mongols building forts along the border with the Golden Horde. The growing power of the Serbians also has not escaped notice, and many of the lords bordering them has begun to make preparations for a possible Serbian invasion. SECRET: The Hungarian King in Response to the Wallachian invasion extends an offer to the Bulgarians to invade the lands of Wallachia that once belonged to them and promises them all the lands they take shall be there's (MOD Response)
 * Mod response: The Tsar of Bulgaria accepts this invitation to invade and annex part of Wallachia, although they cannot contribute all their available military due to ongoing wars with the Mongols
 * Wallachia: Among for a resistance group for the regional south constana,they killing most of hungarian occuper on the northwest the prince is launching an war against the hungarian occupation vassal.
 * meanwhile we built castle defenser on the border regional,the army is ready to beat out of it
 * Republic of Genoa: Shortly after generating the War of Curzola, the citizens of the metropolis and its colonies fear a possible incursion by the Venetians. To avoid losing positions in the Aegean Sea and that the commercial empire that Genoa has established along the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea is not severely affected by Venetian galleys, the Duke has financed with the help of local banks and with the Byzantine Empire support for the construction of a fleet of 60 galleys to block the port of Candia located on the island of Crete and force the Republic of Venice to sign the peace a change of withdrawal from any commercial activity located in the Sea Black (Venice response). Meanwhile, the Ghibelline families in the capital continue to face the Guelph families, events that had been going on for almost a cycle around Italy and the HRE. This led to the vast majority of Genoese territory (except the colonies) plunging into a civil war between families on both sides causing the weakness of government power and the Duke (at that time in the hands of the main Ghibelline families).
 * Principality of Achaea: In the Latinokratia, Achaea has largely been reduced to an Angevin vassal despite its important heritage following the Fourth Crusade. One of the remaining crusader states in the world following the loss of Acre earlier in the decade, Achaea is ruled by Isabella of Villehardouin and her husband Florent of Hainaut. Isabella works diligently to promote local administration of the Principality while Florent focuses his efforts abroad, leading an Achaean contingent to fight on behalf of the Neapolitan Angevins in the War of the Sicilian Vespers. While Florent is away in Italy, Nicholas III of Saint Omer - a prominent Achaean noble - convinces Isabella to have her daughter betrothed to Guy II de la Roche, the young Duke of Athens. As Isabella consents to the betrothal of her three year old daughter, Matilda, Nicholas travels to Athens to personally convince the young Duke to accept the hand of Matilda in betrothal for marriage (Mod Response). Domestically, Isabella works to improve relations between the local Frankish nobles and the predominantly-Greek population.
 * Guy II of Athens is willing to accept this marriage, as long as Isabella gains dispensation from the Pope, as well permission from her liege Charles II
 * Nogai Khan: An agreement between Nogai Khan and Tokhta, (the de jure ruler of the Golden Horde), is reached, with Nogai to rule the lands of the West and Tokhta to rule the lands of the East. This peace is brokered due to increasing pressure from the Hungarians who are mounting fortifications at a rapid pace. As such, Nogai is to command the Armies of the West under his banner, tasked with defending Mongol lands at any cost, by any means. The hasty construction of castles and other fortifications along the border by the Hungarians can simply not be tolerated under any circumstances, thus Nogai Khan raises 2 tumens (20,000) of calvary, riding in suddenly and killing construction engineers and laborers, overwhelming the workers and the garrison in sheer size and number, leaving many structures half completed before riding off to the Great Hungarian Plane, devastating the land by raising, burning, and looting the land after eating various farm animals they come across. The calvary engage in hit and run tactics, destroying supply lines and killing small contingents of Hungarian soldiers. "This is punishment for threatening Ulug Ulus, for threatening my domain." Declares Nogai. 1 tumen (10,000) of infantry is also raised, surrounding the half constructed castles in an attempt to starve out anyone who remains and defend the newly acquired border territory from any counter attack. To properly destroy the half completed castles, siege equipment is ordered to be built, with craftsmen and engineers put to work in the center of Nogai's domain, expected to be completed by next year. Nogai Khan calls upon his vassals, the Russian principalities, to aid him against the Hungarians, noting the power and the glory that can be obtained through this Invasion of Hungary. Nogai Khan also offers Ruthenia to invade Hungary with him, offering to divide the nation in secret. (Mod response please for Russian vassals and Ruthenia.) With some Bulgarian troops pulling back from the border, a concentrated offensive is made from all sides to attack the Bulgarians while they are weakened, attempting to push them out of the border region. As wars rage on in the West, we seek to trade with our neighbors Genoa, who we share a land border with in Crimea.
 * Mod response: the Slavic principalities are less interested in glory of attacking Hungary, but nonetheless provide the required support as proper of their vassalage


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EVENTS DEPENDENT ON AN ALGO ARE INCOMING.

'''NOTE: All algo results can be found on the talk page of this article. All wars from 1295 are up to date.'''
 * Kingdom of Sweden: The King of Sweden uses the newly gained taxes to raise, arm and armor a Royal Army of 7,000 men. This army is supplemented by the newly-made nobility's feudal levies, for a Swedish army of 12,000 men, the core of which is a force of 4,000 heavily armored cavalry. Birger also begins helping to improve the towns of Sweden, building roads to link the various towns and villages and also granting Royal Charters to leaders of certain towns to formalize their authority as burghers. Trade with continental Europe is also encouraged, with Swedish traders being encouraged to sail the Baltic coast plying their goods. Upon hearing of the flight of Jens Grand, the Swedish diplomatic envoy to Denmark is reassigned to visit Pope Boniface VIII to offer his service to the Holy Father in solving the Danish problem [MOD RESPONSE NEEDED]. The King also commissions the construction of a large fleet of "Viking" clinker-built ships to establish Swedish naval dominance. Additionally, hearing of the vacancy of the Polish throne, Birger sends diplomats to Poland to speak to the Polish nobility and to advocate electing Birger to the Polish throne. These diplomats are given large amounts of gold to use as bribes. [MOD RESPONSE NEEDED]
 * Poland has absolutely no interest in having the Swedish king elected their king, as they have protection from Bohemia already
 * Eastern Georgia: David VIII sends the news of Anastasius' birth to the Ilkhan court. He also proposes a deal in which former Georgian territory (Caucasian Armenia and Shirvan – the latter of which correspondings to ethnic Azeri lands in the Transcaucasus) are returned in-exchange for: affirmation of Georgian vassalage, the extension of Ilkhan suzerainty to Western Georgia and Trebizond via a future conquest, systematic annual tribute, and increased Christian missionary activity – though the last clause is secret ( ILKHANATE RESPONSE NEEDED ). To consolidate his claim to the Pontine region of Anatolia, he claims the Trapezuntine throne through his maternal grandfather, Manuel I of Trebizond. Meanwhile, the King implements several reforms to strengthen the Georgian state, which has been in a state of decline since the Mongol invasions of the mid-thirteenth century. He codifies tax laws – with both coins and grain being permissible forms of currency and valid mediums of financial exchange. He continues to use Mongol coinage, though he begins to mint Georgian coins again – incorporating both Byzantine and Persian motifs. He establishes a royal monopoly over the large copper reserves in the Kartli region. On the issue of defense, he doubles the number of men in the Royal Guard (monaspa) to ~10,000; the latter constitutes the only regular army Georgia. This feat is achieved by hiring more mercenaries, and by promising young noblemen (knights) generous land grants upon the completion of their service. He also expands the role of Amirspasalar in the procurement of military goods. In Tbilisi, guilds producing such goods (armor, lances, sabers) receive government sponsorship in an effort to standardize them – though the majority are still procured by lords.
 * Ilkhanate response: The Ilkhan Baydu accepts this deal. In a gesture of goodwill, he sends a company of Afghan farmers from the east of the Ilkhanate to aid Georgian farms and improve their agriculture.
 * Ilkhanate: The Ilkhan court in Tabriz hears from the Cilician officials who journeyed there in 1295 (led by Cilicia's abdicated former king Hethum II). They describe the recent conquest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Crusader states of Tripoli and Acre by the Islamic Mamluk Sultanate and urge the Ilkhan to invade the Mamluk Sultanate so that these areas may be returned to Christian control. As the Ilkhanate had previously invaded the Mamluk Sultanate with Christian aid in the 1260s but had been repulsed, many Mongol officials in Tabriz are also supportive of such an invasion, partially for reasons of revenge. Hearing this, the Ilkhan Baydu decides to start planning an invasion. He realises that, to avoid the same fate as the 1260s invasion, a greater Franco-Mongol alliance would be important. Baydu orders a diplomatic mission, consisting of Cilician missionaries and Mongol diplomats, to launch on a ship from Armenian Cilicia. The mission first travels to the Kingdom of Cyprus, whose royal family also used to control the fallen Kingdom of Jerusalem. The diplomats ask the King of Cyprus to support the invasion of the Mamluk Sultanate in return for the territory of the former Kingdom of Jerusalem being returned to Cypriot control if the Mamluks are defeated. They explain how a naval attack from Cyprus combined with a land-based attack from the Ilkhanate would outflank the Mamluks and aid their chances of success. Finally, they request that a small number of Cypriot diplomats accompany them on the next leg of their journey, as they intend to travel to the Papal States and think the presence of Cypriots would help convince the Pope to support their cause. (Cyprus response) Meanwhile, in preparation for an invasion in several years' time, Baydu starts to manoeuvre soldiers and military resources towards the southwest of the Ilkhanate. A few commanders are sent to the east of nation in order to recruit Afghans and Turkmen into the army, with the dual goals of increasing the size of the army and aiding the integration of the various ethnic groups in the Ilkhanate. Some ethnic Persian soldiers are also sent to the east to help secure the eastern border as some of the population of this region is being shifted away.
 * Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia: The mission to obtain Christian aid for the invasion of the Mamluk Sultanate departs on a ship from the port of Tarsus. King Thoros III commissions the improvement of the port of Tarsus and the expansion of the nation's navy. Nestorian Christian missionaries from Cilicia continue to travel through the western Ilkhanate, converting some of the populace.
 * Sultanate of Rum: Sultan Mesud II managed to stabilise the internal politics somewhat by securing the loyalty of several Turkmen potentates within the nation. However, he continues to receive criticism from other Turkic leaders as well as local Mongol officials and his political status does not appear to be entirely secure. Hearing that the allied Georgia is interested in invading Rum's rival Trebizond, he starts to develop the military in the east of the nation. However, he keeps most of the military in the centre and west of the country to keep other beyliks in check.


 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa" A Hill, a hill that is what his majesty John II has his arhitects under guidance of his bastard brother John of Mallines from who he got the permission to build this mansion in the first place. Some designs by members of the Mallines court being verry enthousiast some imposible due to fysics , others to just make John II spend a life time of money so that they can reap the benefits from the taxation and import duties of the materials needed. While some briliant architects are looking for designs they do find one major issue , which was allready known when permission was given to build. Alltough at this point the duke and his architects taught less of it then they do now , this issue being that mountaintop is not as flat nor as biog as expected which meants it is nearly impossible to not need to build into the mountain side if one is to get a great mansion worthy of a Duke.The mansion designing and building being calculated to be 5 years to 10 years long depending on the excact design and other circumstances that cannot be helped against. While the duke personaly requests to the Lordship of Mallines to accept the coat of arms of Heyst Ten Berge officialy as even with it its use , it has no legal recognision. (Mod response).As the heyst swan is one of the best know symbols of the area.Myerebeke once a small enclave of Utrecht has its right to lordship passed to the dukes of Brabant , This making the Brabantine Royal tittle longer and more glorious. John II Duke of Brabant and limbourg ,Count of Dalhem and Lords of HertogenRade and Myerebeke being the bigger of the title with alot of lesser tittles being present as well.While Myerebeke is part now of the Brabantine dynasty his majesty has decided to not put it into the royal arms due to its size and importance of the town.While this is happening the Duke himself is looking into manners to improve the army of his realm , where he and his nobles decide that for the current moment . The army will be based around a core of Knights who are heavly armed and protected proffesional but lesser armed bow and pike men. This undesiveness yet on the porportions of bowmen compared to pikemen and man at arms is due the Gastraphetes , a greek variant of the crossbow which some want to use in combination of the Longbow.With the duke also looking into how to possibly use city and townguards during warfare, as they would know their city better then anyone army in the realm. Alltough quality and size can greatly depend on the city size and economic prosperrity , as the wealthier and more populous can provide and keep a bigger city guard.Alltough cities like Antwerp do not only need the money for direct guards , but for the building of protective defences like walls and ditches , and for some smalller cities cheaper wooden pike walls after the ditches. Alltough John II knows that there is another enemy that is not man , but in fact Nature. As due to the low altitude of Brabant it has often smaller and medium size floodings along its coast , alltough it is less then it could be due to the Hollandish county of Zeeland which gets floods first before they can hit Brabant. Masetrieth one of the furthest corners of the Brabantine realm , Our duke proposes to the Liege Government to a Renovation of the Basilica of Saint Servatius. This would show both states loyality and greatness towards to the faith and the papacy.(Mod response)
 * The Lord of Mallines accepts the new coat of arms
 * Prince Hugh de Chalon of Liege accepts the donation from the Duke to renovate the Basilica
 * Kingdom of Naples : Despite the Sicilian Victory at Messina, a Force of 50,000 Neapolitan and Achaean Troops manage to land in the city of Catania and under the command of Phillip I , Prince of Taranto the Third Son of Charles II of Naples the Neapolitan and Achaean Troops march towards Palermo via the cities of Enna and Caltaniassetta with the objective of capturing the capital city and forcing the self-proclaimed King of Sicily , Fredrick II to surrender to the King of Naples. Meanwhile with the French refusing to provide aid to the Kingdom of Naples , Charles II requests the support of the Kingdom of Aragon to deal with the Sicilian Rebels as well as placing additional pressure on the Kingdom of France given that the King comes from the cadet branch of the House of Capet and that it would be vital to aid Naples against the Aragonese (French and Aragonese Response) . Meanwhile with the daughter of the Princess of Achaea set to be married to the Duke of Athens , Charles II states that he would allow such a marriage at the condition that the Duchy of Athens reaffirms it’s Loyalty to Charles II in order to uphold the Treaty of Viterbo in which the rights to the defunct Latin Roman Empire where handed over the Charles II’s father , Charles I meaning that all of Frankish Greece was to accept the suzerainty of the Angevin King of Naples in which currently is Charles II (Mod Response).
 * Guy II agrees to uphold the treaty. Pope Boniface grants dispensation due to the level of consiguity, and Guy proceeds wtih his marriage
 * Kingdom of Denmark: King Eric VI planned on releasing Jens Grand anyway under surveillance, but now that he is out of the country then in some ways the problem has solved itself. He sends a messenger to Sweden, thanking King Birger for his concern and assistance, and that this is hopefully the beginning of a stronger relationship between the two kingdoms. (Swedish Response) The new tax laws are beginning to be implemented in Denmark from the start of this year to raise money. Another phase of the plan also begins, as Eric VI invites many of the local Danish magnates, the nobles, who are the most prominent debt holders and opponents of the King to the Danehof (parliament) to discuss setting up a new Royal Charter (sort of a constitution) for his reign. However, after the prominent nobles arrive, they are immediately imprisoned by the king's troops and put to death for treason, for conspiring against the crown. Following the execution, the properties and wealth of the Danish magnates are seized by the government. This effectively solves Denmark's domestic debt problems in one blow, and the influx of new revenue is being put to use in paying off the foreign debt holders, mainly north German states. Paying the foreign debt will take years but the burden has been eased with the effective erasure of the peskiest Danish nobles that held some of the debt. Moreover, the position of the Crown has been strengthened with this removal of the most powerful and influential political rivals in one stroke. The new taxes are also being collected, with nobles being taxed more heavily than the peasantry, both as a way of gaining the people's loyalty and keeping the remaining nobles under control. Eric also begins increasing the size of the army and navy, planning for a total strength of 20,000 troops eventually. Some ships will also be built in the future.
 * County of Holstein: Having secured his own position in Denmark, Eric VI decrees that Holstein will be reunified to undo the mistake of decades ago. Henry I, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg, is now given the old title of Count of Holstein, in return for his loyalty to the Danish crown. Adolph VI and Gerhard II, the counts of the other states in the region, are allowed to keep their titles and wealth and are given positions in the Count of Holstein's court. The state's relationship with Denmark is defined as the Count visits Copenhagen to speak with the Danish monarch, and they agree that part of the proceeds from Holstein's taxes and tariffs will go to Denmark. Also the Count of Holstein will provide Denmark with military assistance whenever it is necessary, including German troops for the Danish army. Henry I begins raising a modest army of his own to defend the state, and the construction of a castle started by Adolph VI also continues.
 * The nobles revolt against your act of treachery, and appeal to the Pope for support. Pope Boniface excommunicates Eric, depriving him of office of a Christian kingdom. The nobles support his Christopher for the throne, and seize control of Zeeland with 10,000 troops


 * Bohemia: Welceslaus II and his wife Judith von Hapsburg have twins, Margeret and Ottakar.  King Wenceslaus II sensing an opportunity to secure more power in Poland raises a levy of 10,000 troops, and moves into his lands in Krakow with the Army following the death of the king of Poland, and the Mongol invasion of Hungary. Wenceslaus II sends a letter to the Polish nobility offering to protect them against the Mongols but in exchange they must recognize him as overlord of Poland, and begins fortifying his position in Krakow and improving his fortifications in along the Bohemian mountains (Mod Response). He also calls upon the Polish lords to join him and prevent the Mongols from ravaging eastern Europe again. (nate approved this on discord)  Wenceslaus continues to promote the urban development of his Bohemian and Polish holdings. Efforts to improve trade routes between Lesser Poland and Prague are made, along with major efforts to improve the economy of the his holdings. To further encourage loyalty amongst his subjects, and to secure the confidence of the other Polish holdings Wenceslaus writes a new Royal charter outlining extensive freedoms and privleges of the guilds, Burghers, nobility, and cities in exchange for the promise to provide troops, and taxes to the crown, along with removing internal barriers of trade within his realm. Wenceslaus II sends a letter to his ally Emperor Adolf requesting imperial support against the Mongol threat saying that if Poland and Bohemia fall the HRE will follow, He sends out letters to Rome for the Pope, and to King Andrew requesting that they ignore the words of the Heathen Mongols reminding them of the death and destruction brought by the Mongol invasions and asking that King Andrew remain steadfast promising to support them in fighting against Noghai Horde, along with requesting Papal support in the form of the Holy Teutonic order to assist in the protection against the godless Noghai . Further in a public address to the Polish nobles reminding them of the destruction Noghai himself carried out not ten years ago during the4 third Mongol invasion of Poland. Wenceslaus promises to act as the proper overlord of Poland and protect it at all costs, promising to not take the title of King until after Noghai has been defeated. A secret envoy is sent to the Hungarians and Wenceslaus promises to commit to the defence of the Hungary once contorl over Poland is secured. The 10 k strong army is trained and armed with a mix of pikemen, bows and cross bows, that mobile, and fixed large shields, to contest the Mongolian arrows, while light cavalry made up of freemen are created as a scouts and skirmishers employing mongol or steppe bows, to support the heavy cavalry of the nobles who will be used to attack the mongols quickly. A string of new fortifications are started along the Bohemian mountains, and along the Vistula river and lesser Poland all leading to the great fortress of Krakow while forward fortifications are also built all with moots and stakes to prevent calvary from being as effective. Krakow is heavily fortified, as construction of newer outer fortifications taking advantage of the mountainious terrain of the carpathian mountains. Food and Grain stores along with the new harvest are brought across the bohemian, and Carpathian mountains to prevent the mongols from taknig them, while levies are raised on the polish dukes to bring up the forces to 18 k (approved by nate). Plans are also laid out to begin a scorched earth policy of the polish country side wuith Polish subjects being evacuated west or to major strongholds to deny Noghai the use of the land. Furthermore bridges are destroyed along the vistula, and places that canjt be fortified are abandoned and burned to prevent their usage by the Mongols. plans to send troops to help defend the Danube fortifications are made. 
 * Poland accepts Wenceslas as their overlord until they can elect a new king. 
 * Adolf of Germany and the Livonian Order both agree to send support to Bohemia, amounting to 7,000 infantry, 900 cavalry and 200 knights
 * Hungarian Diplomacy (Secret): We humbly accept any help we can receive from the King of Bohemia and Poland against the black Adders, that are the Mongols trying to bring down christiandom.
 * Kingdom of Portugal: The King tries another attempt to colonize with 1000 people both male and female but now the destination is OTL Senegal [Mod Response Needed].
 * Please stop trying to colonize this early


 * Mali Empire: Mansa Sakoura was indeed a paranoid ruler, mostly out of the constant suspicion of being overthrown in a new rebellion similar to how he seized control. Still, the economic reforms he implemented should not be overlooked. Sakoura standardized the foreign caravan trade, funneling the exports of Mali from Niani out from local capitals of Ouagadougou and Gao, onward from Timbuktu through outer vassals of Tragaza and Agadez. This trade was crucial to restabilize the imperial finances, which was disrupted in recent civil wars. He also began to standardize a system of currency across the empire, based on their most valuable commodities. The Mithqal, worth the same as the Arab Dinar, was set to 4.5 grams of gold. One unit of salt, equal to 3 grams, was set to 1/6 of a Mithqal. Finally, one copper bar was set to 2 Mithqals. With this new source of finances, Sakoura created a new private army of mercenaries in his personal demesne, as his personal body guards. Slaves was also a key source of revenue exported from Mali, and Sakoura particularly was known to brutally suppress the slave population using his personal military. Meanwhile, Musa quickly grew very popular and beloved since he gained the use of his legs, and was known to be both incredibly strong and handsome. The sons of Kolokan were very jealous of this attention, and compelled Musa to take up a job as a common cow herder near Niani. While tending to these cows, suddenly a great lion came from the wilderness, threatening the cattle he was in charge over. Not hesitating a second to protect his kin, Musa flew into a rage, and grappled with the lion to the ground, stabbing it through the heart with his knife. This act tremendously increased his popularity across Mali proper, seeing him single-handedly take down a lion.
 * Yuan China: Reorganization of the Chinese military forces continues, with the formation of new army units throughout the country under the new organizational system instituted by the emperor. The army is divided into three groups; the imperial army, which shall remain mobilized and train regularly outside of the capital city of Beijing, and campaign with the emperor during times of war; the provincial army, which comprises all garrison units spread throughout the empire and subordinate to their civil and military governors within their respective provinces; and the reserve army, a special corp of trained reservists who reside in the large fortress towns of China near the capital, and with enough manpower to replace the losses of the imperial army as needed. Another 200,000 soldiers have been trained for army service, while approximately 30,000 cavalry are drawn from the Mongolian hosts for army service at the behest of the emperor. On the naval front, the construction of new warships and patrol vessels has proceeded somewhat smoothly, with shipwrights building dozens of new craft every month to fulfill their quotas. They are allowed a measure of freedom in how they approach the fulfillment of the commission given to them, granting them sometime to ensure the vessels are properly seaworthy rather than rushing them into service as Kublai Khan had in the past. These ships are to be grouped into units known as wei, each of which shall consist of 50 vessels, 5,000 sailors, and 1,500 marines, allowing the flotillas enough manpower to deal with piracy in the waters surrounding China. The sinicization of the western provinces continues under the auspices of the local Chinese bureaucracy appointed over the population by the emperor. Seeking to encourage the adoption of Chinese customs and ideologies, the emperor has transferred several thousand Han families into the west and paired them with local families, with the goal of ensuring that the Chinese population will thrive using the tried and true methods of agricultural cultivation in the region to survive, while likewise urging the local inhabitants to adopt Chinese customs. The integration of the local inhabitants into Chinese society remains slow, though some are warming up to their new neighbors, though they remain wary of the Mongol patrols in the region who maintain a vigilant guard against any threats of rebellion. Several young Chinese boys are handed over to the Mongolian hosts by the emperor to help build a new source of expert horsemen accustom to Mongolian warfare and equestrian culture. The emperor wishes to see a broader source of horsemen for the army established outside of the steppes of Mongolia, and more adapted to the needs of China as a whole, though without sacrificing on the experience gained by his men during his predecessors campaigns across all of Eurasia. In the spirit of his fore-bearer's ideal of encouraging multi-ethnic and multi-religious cooperation, Temür Khan permits the construction of churches, mosques, and shrines throughout all of China in line with the local traditions of the inhabitants of those lands. He himself takes up calligraphy and study of the Bible, taking particular interest in the latter after the book was given to him by a member of the court who had been in the company of the foreigner Marco Polo a few years prior. Seeking to better understand the culture and religion of the traveler's homeland, Temür has several Christian theologians appear before him from the neighboring lands, and educate him on the religion and its teachings. Aware of the old "Church of the East" which had at once been present within China, the emperor is fascinated with the concepts presented within Christianity and its theology. Plans to urbanize the north are laid out by Temür Khan, as the Mongolians within his court find themselves more and more enamored by the riches of the Chinese people and the luxuries afforded to the by their sedentary lifestyles. Wishing to see the glory of Karakorum restore, Temür Khan and his entourage journey to the distant city to see it in detail, and plan out how best to proceed with its restoration. Architects are commissioned with the goal of expanding the city, developing its irrigation system, and developing several smaller towns and villages in the surrounding region to cater to the needs of the Mongol population. These are in turn given tracts of land to graze upon for their herds, while they are encouraged to sell their excess goods in the market town strategically-placed within the province of Mongolia. This in turn helps to fuel the economic growth that will soon be vital to the future growth ans survival of Karakorum in the north. Several other urbanization projects are laid out for the region of Manchuria, while there exists plenty of fertile land capable of supporting a string of new cities envisioned by the emperor for the northern territories. Though some do exist in the region, most are only temporary encampments which lack much of the modern conveniences enjoyed by the Han peoples of the south. Likewise, many are not connected by any permanent roads or supported by any imperial services that would otherwise help the region better integrate into the empire as a whole, as well as be a more productive province.
 * Nogai Khan: The siege equipment ordered last year has completed construction and is sent to the Hungarian border to destroy what's left of the fortifications, assisted by 1 tumen (10,000) of infantry, with the goal of the complete dismantling of the border castles. With the Polish King dead and 2 claimants to the Polish throne emerging, Nogai Khan proclaims himself as the King of Poland, declaring himself to the Polish lords as the ultimate protection from the Mongols. Not only will the Poles be safe from Mongolian invasion under his rule, the Kingdom of Poland shall increase massively in both size and power, being Nogai Khan's primary title upon being crowned King. Upon Nogai Khan's coronation, the Kingdom of Poland shall be the suzerains of the Russian Principalities. Nogai Khan also promises to convert to Catholicism, being baptized into to the Catholic Church during his future coronation, saying he now sees the light of the Lord. (MOD RESPONSE PLEASE) An offer is made to the Hungarians, Nogai Khan shall cease the Mongolian Invasion of Hungary if King Andrew recognizes Nogai Khan as the King of Poland over Wenceslaus II and Birger. A force of 5 tumens (50,000), 3 tumens of calvary and 2 tumens of infantry are raised by Nogai Khan in preparation to face the armies of Wenesclaus II on the battlefield. Additional siege equipment is ordered to be built in the center of Nogai's domain in preparation for the new campaign. With victory over the Hungarians achieved by destroying their fortifications and raiding their countryside, we secure our conquest by leaving 1 tumen of cavalry to fortify and consolidate the conquered land, with 1 tumen of calvary and 2 tumen of infantry, one carrying siege equipment march upon the mountain passes of Krakow to defeat the Polish defenders. 2 tumens from Nogai's domain, 1 tumen of calvary and 1 tumen of infantry each march from the west into Eastern Poland and upon finding it burnt to the ground, march upon Plock, the ancient capital of Poland, surrounding the city in an attempt to capture it.
 * Władysław the Elbow-high rallies the Polish duchies to support Wenceslaus in fear of the Mongol aggression
 * Kingdom of Hungary: The great and most holy Kingdom of Hungary has been stricken by a plague most foul, the mongols, may the devil take their bones, have in an unprecedented and most foul move struck at our peaceful land thinking we are fools and they will triumph where they have failed miserably. They as a nest of the foul demons released by Mephistopheles and all his great demons think they shall come and acheive a victory with their vile sorcery. They shall find no reprieve from god facing an endless emptiness, and the people shall like the Jews flew to the Danube as the Jordan. And just like the Egyptians their animals shall die if they drink, and they shall find no reprieve in the eyes of god having their supplies and great weapons destroyed. And should they attempt to ride up to our cities, just like lucifer at the silver gates they will be thrown down. The great people of hungary will not stand, like the Archangels of god they work and will destroy this heathen army. In great blessings a son is born to the King, named Géza. He is healthy and thus succession is secured to the Arpáds. To his great benefit he is named Palatine of Hungary by his Son-in-law Andrew III. Secret The King worrying about a future mongol invasion sends word to the Knights of St. John hoping to enlist their help against the mongols should they invade again Mod Response. [End Secret] He also orders the baptism of his son Gezá, with great ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Esztergom. He begins to plan an assault against the treacherous wallachians mustering up an army of 8k soldiers and posting alongside the mountains awaiting an attack.
 * Banate of Bosnia: Taking advantage of the distraction the mongols have poised to the Subič, the Kotromanič family has begun to consolidate their power within the kingdom, winning over many lords to their sides and seizing some lands from the Subič, perhaps notably the Bán begins to fortify his defenses, perhaps appearing to prepare for a war of some sorts. As he begans to expand his power he notably encourages the spread of Catholicism and beginning to form connections with Italian states and the western part of europe.
 * Kingdom of Cyprus:King Henry II visits the construction sites of the five fort of the new defense plans and for a day works there as a normal worker as well.meanwhile the king orders that from this moment oneards,all actions and ars are to be recorded and kept under surveilance in the Royal Library.
 * Republic of Genoa: While the blockade in Candia continues, the Duke and his affiliates have sent diplomats with a request for help to Constantinople (who had already suffered a looting in the fourth crusade influenced by Venetian interests) to block the Strait of the same with the aim of frustrating the Venetian merchant ships the attempt to trade within the Black Sea, leaving Genoa with almost all of the trade between it and the Mediterranean Sea. On the other hand, focusing on the Western Mediterranean, the heart of the Venetian influence in this region was in Palma de Mallorca and Tunisia, in order to finance such incursions into the respective cities, the duke has asked Milanese bankers (Milan Response) a loan to finance the construction of a fleet of 45 galleys and 4,000 men to dock on the coasts of Palma de Mallorca and take the city with the main objective of monopolizing the passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Western Mediterranean. However, the fact that Genoa is in a period of boom, the opposite is true within the metropolis, the continuous confrontations between the Guelph and the Gibelins worsened with the passing of the months, both have very economic and diplomatic policies Opposites favoring the HRE or the Pope. Families like Fieschi and Grimaldi, allied to the Guelph, argue that the treaty with Milan and Constantinople should be broken, and peace signed with the Republic of Venice tending to have policies more in line with the interests of the pontificated states and the city state of the rest from Italy. While families such as the Doria and the Spinola allied to the gibelins maintain that giving up sovereignty to the HRE would greatly benefit the course of the war for the respective families that they entail knowing that Genoa is considered an important source of income.
 * Milanese bankers happily move to finance and work out the loan with the standard interest rate of 1.4 percent compounding bi-yearly. (Genoa response)
 * Ui Neill: Domhnall mac Brian Ó Néill bends knee to King Edward I of England and accepts his new title as Chief Justicar of Ireland Duke in Eiru with all landholders in Ireland being his vassals. Domnhall returns to Ireland to assemble an army for operations in Scotland and to reclaim Tir Eoghain. Domnhall on his return has his brother surrender Tir Eoghain to him as the opportunity to be the first lords of Ireland excites the Ui Neill clan. Domhnall assembles some 2,500 soldiers from the Lordship of Ireland now including Tir Eoghain and leads them to the Scottish highlands where he breaks them down the army into 8 groups and has them raiding and burning villages and food stocks in the western coastal Highlands unless they decide to support John of Hastings. Rather than try and fight a field battle the goal of these troops is simply to hold the Scots in the highlands.
 * Chimu: The Chimuenese continue expanding to the south, while sacrifices are made to the gods. War stories about Roxhivi Xao in the Villages located in the northeast of Huarmey.
 * Kingdom of England: Seeing a golden opportunity in front of him to quell Irish people and use their forces against the Scottish Usurper  Robert the Bruce, Edward Receives the warrior Domhnall mac Brian O Neill and offers him terms of alliance: "Acknowledge me as your overlord, and I shall name you Duke in Eiru and my Chief Justiciar in Ireland, to be the first Lords in Ireland under the Overlordship of our Grace, take back your stolen throne and lead your armies and those of your irish countrymen against the Usurper Bruce in Scotland". Anglo-Norman Lords are called into the Parliament of Ireland, where they aknowledge O'Neill as Duke in Eiru. With the O'Neils as their vassals, the English plan to wage a two-front war on the Scottish, and pinch the Scottish Armies between the force of Irishmen in the highlands, tasked with gaining the allegiance of the local lords and Clans for the Claim of John Hastings as the English Army invades from the south. After the acceptance, Domhnall is invested as Duke in Eiru. With the Irish invading the highlands, the King calls up his armies and begins plans to assemble armies numbering up to 20 000, including 2000 longbowmen. The Primary force of 7000 begins by engaging with the Scottish "Group B" of 4000 Soldiers. However, Edward works on engaging 1000 longbowmen before the battle to bring his forces up to 8000 men. Edward begins plans to move the Stone of Scone into his warcamps, where he hopes to assemble enough Scottish Lords in order to declare John as King and crown him on the stone before the stone is taken back to Westminster. Letters are sent to All Scottish Lords requesting their allegiance, or at the very least, their neutrality [Mod response needed on how many extra troops this gains, and how many lords pledge to John, if any]. Robert the Bruce is named as a Usurper and a Murderer, and declared an Outlaw by Edward in his role as Lord Paramount. Letters are sent to the Pope petitioning him to declare the coronation as invalid, while a separate, officially totally unrelated letter is also sent to the Pope with the promise of constructing a Grand Cathedral in Westminster, and asking for a "Cardinal of Good Repute" to be sent to bless the first stone of this new Cathedral [Mod Response Needed for the Pope].Elizabeth Hastings, John's daughter, is betrothed to Edward, Prince of Wales and an agreement is made to pass the succession of the Scottish throne to Elizabeth in the case that John's cause is won (to be approved by a friendly Scottish Parliament, of Course). IN order to finance these wars, Edward calls a parliament. However, unlike previous parliaments, Two Knights from the shires and two Burgeses from the Burghs were called to sit in their own power as representatives of the commons and not simply assent to the decisions of the Magnates. The Lords themselves were drawn first from the successors of the barons who signed Magna Carta and new Lords. This sets a precedent for future parliaments. The Franchise of forty-shilling freeholders was established. This is a monumental event in English parliamentary history, as Edward for the first time has a mandate to collect taxes from the entire population. The parliament met and granted Edward the Lay Subsidies he asked for to fund the war and the Grand Cathedral in Westminster and an additional subsity to construct a cathedral in Rome, should the Holy Father Assent [Papal response please].
 * Lordship of Milan: Lord Matteo and his wife, Bonaccossi Bonacosta, have their seventh child Zaccaria. Their eldest son Galeazzo continues to be trained for leadership and has begun to take the blade quite well alongside his younger brother Luchino. Both are trained by the marshal at arms of Milan. The soldiers in Milan have gotten very accustomed to Galeazzo’s leadership and many view him as a very capable commander. Lord Matteo begins to focus on the income and economy of Milan with our wool output being increased as well as armor being produced to the point of surplus. Lord Matteo starts suffering from an unknown sickness towards the end of the year. In his place his eldest son Galeazzo begins to reign in his place as he is bed stricken. Galeazzo looks to further refine the Milanese economy through loans and using the army as a mercenary troop. (Interested countries please respond.) Galeazzo sends messages to all currently at war factions for potential loans or hiring the Milanese army as mercenaries. Galeazzo states that he will continue to train the Milanese army to be stronger and better, however they require on field experience. The army is to be paid weekly, by standard wages.
 * Danish Diplomacy: A representative from Denmark says King Eric VI is interested in hiring mercenaries to help put down a rebellion by nobles.
 * Kamagura Japan: Prince Hisaki, Shogun of Japan finally disperses the Japanese army formed against the Yuan invasions years prior. The last of these forces leave dissatisfied having not been compensated properly for their help against the Mongols. This while engendering some issues between the Shogun and the Daimyo of the Japanese home islands does not lead to full scale rebellion. Prince Hisaki has still left the country free of a foreign invader and the Emperor still on the throne and regardless of how the Daimyo feel about the compensation the Prince is a national Hero. Shogun Hisaki returns to Kyoto noticing that an eerie calm has descended over the country. There is no plotting, no feudal wars being fought, the empire is at peace for the first time in decades. Hisaki convenes with his council consisting of his brother, father, and two sons about how to restore a sense of normalcy to Japan and decides the invitation of all the major daimyo of the war will be invited to the Imperial court to celebrate and settle grievances in serious council meetings for one month. The Shogun makes clear moves into trying to find a way to start fixing the economy was to take precedence and as the council meets and decides on how to conduct trade and ease some of the restrictions on trade put in place to fight the invasion off. The nation makes clear forays into more thoroughly settling the north and south islands with settlers displaces for various reasons being sent to the far north and far south to settle more land. The dissatisfaction of the Daimyo does lead to some fallout as Emperor Fushimi begin to take new council from a small group of northern Daimyo looking to influence the Emperor towards their direction, hoping to secure some sort of favor or imperial assistance at court or help with developing home territories. The Japanese trade fleet now with relative peace on the waters begins probing out towards Korea, the nomads to the north and even discreetly towards the Yuan attempting to law low as trade options are explored. Japan remains politically isolated from the world with outside of its trade forays as no proper diplomatic channels are open to any nearby nations.
 * Principality of Achaea: With the War of the Sicilian Vespers rolling over to another year, Prince Florent of Hainaut is still overseas in Italy leaving his wife, Princess Isabella of Villehardouin, solely in charge of the Principality. With the approval of her liege and the dispensation from the Pope for a royal betrothal to take place between her daughter, Matilda, and Duke Guy II of Athens, the Princess makes preparations for the eventual union, to occur in a few years once Matilda has grown older. Meanwhile, domestically the Princess works to build up the principality's administrative capacity by convincing local Catholic church leaders to open their walls to instruct prominent Greek scribes in the Latin language. While Isabella refrains from making this mandatory, it is strongly encouraged as the scribes would need to do business in Latin. Other efforts are made to help speed along the process of conversion to Roman Catholicism among the population, including providing greater funding to local Catholic churches (which, at least in part, subsidizes their educational efforts). With Nicholas III of Saint Omer, the Marshal of Achaea, successful in arranging one diplomatic agreement, he puts his services to use by travelling to the Court of the Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos, which is under the Achaean influence. While there, Nicholas urges Richard Orsini to become a bailli for Isabella and Florent, which would grant the Count Palatine greater influence in Achaea but also reiterate his realm's status under Achaea (MOD REQUEST, noting that this happened IOTL). The current arrangement of Isabella as a domestic administrator, Florent as a military leader, and Nicholas III of Saint Omer as a diplomat is serving Achaea well, as each develops greater knowledge in their respective areas.
 * Orsini accepts to become bailli


 * Kingdom of Scotland: With the war raging, Robert the Bruce officially strips Edward I of his title of Lord Paramount, and also says that he did not kill John Bailol, the mob did, and that his crowning of King was an act of God. With the English arriving at Stirling Castle, the 2,000 force there readies for the siege and are told by Robert the Bruce that they will never surrender, and will fight to the very last man. Robert the Bruce announces the taking up of Edward Bailol, John Bailol’s son, as his own son and heir, and will raise him as his own. On the issues of the feudal lords

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

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

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

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

'''Due to the civil conflict in Genoa, members of the Grimaldi family seizes control of the Rock of Monaco, and break it off as independent from the republic. Francis Grimaldi appeals to King Philip of France to recognize him as the first Prince of Monaco, as a French vassal.'''
 * Kingdom of Sweden: Upon hearing of the excommunication of Eric VI, the massacre of Danish nobles now known as the "Blood Feast" and the subsequent uprising by the surviving nobility, Birger decides he must intervene in Denmark. In a speech to a gathering of Swedish nobles and clergymen, the King declares he can no longer stand by whilst a madman and heathen sits on the Danish throne and plunges Sweden's southern neighbor into chaos and civil war. The King then reads the Papal Bull officially excommunicating Eric VI aloud to the gathered nobles and clergymen, declaring that it is their duty as Christians to aid the Pope in removing Eric VI. After a ceremony in which Birger and his son, Magnus Birgersson, are blessed by the Archbishop of Uppsala Nils Allesson, Birger personally leads his army of 12,000 men south towards Skane. He sends several messengers to the Danish nobles and their forces gathered at Zealand with a letter. In his letter, Birger offers to help overthrow Eric VI and install Christopher on the throne so long as Christopher and the nobles name Birger's son, Magnus Birgersson, as Christopher's heir to the Danish throne [MOD RESPONSE NEEDED]. The Swedish government begins encouraging Swedish immigration to the newly conquered Finland, with the government providing free transportation to Finland via the newly built ships. The Swedish clergy under Archbishop Allesson also begins encouraging priests and monks to begin moving to Finland to help Christianize the population. The clergy begins establishing parishes throughout the Finnish territories and begins building churches and chapels. Numerous towns in Finland are also granted Royal Charters, naming their leaders as Burghers in the newly made Swedish nobility and helping to integrate the Finnish territories into Sweden as well as making the Finnish leaders loyal to the Swedish King. Additionally the lands of defeated Finnish chieftains are awarded to loyal Swedish nobles, who are also encouraged to move to Finland to help solidify Swedish power in the area and help oversee the integration of Finland into Sweden. The queen, Martha of Denmark, also makes plans for a highway to connect the Finnish town of Vaasa to the developing Swedish road network in order to link Finland and Sweden and provide for immigration to Finland without ships.
 * Christopher accepts aid from Sweden. Being unmarried, he would be willing to make a marriage alliance with Eric in order to facilitate his desire for dynastic union
 * Swedish Diplomacy: Birger would be happy to form a marriage alliance. He offers to marry a female relative (daughter, niece, sister) to Christopher or for Birger's son Magnus to marry a female relative of Christopher.


 * Bohemia (and Lesser Poland): Wenceslaus II applauds his men following the Heroic defence of Krakow. However upon hearing of the defeat at Plock, Wenceslaus II leads a contingent of 8,000 men to aid the the Polish forces under the command of Wladislaw the Elbow-High who are in a fighting withdrawal across the river burning down bridges and butrning the city of Plock as they withdraw across the vistula to slow down the advancing Mongol forces. The forces sent by Austria and the HRE are used to reinforce Krakow. As The Bohemian-Polish forces withdraw they burn the fields and poison the wells to wtihdraw into the hills, forests, and fortified region of Western Poland and Silesia where they can engage in raids using the forts across the region. The Light cavalry carry out skirmishes and harrass the over stretched and forces of Noghai's horde to protect the rear and flanks of the forces  The passes to Krakow remain protected to prevent an encirclement by Mongolian forces, and  Envoys are sent to Italy to secure loans and contract Italian mercenaries, While envoys are sent to western Europe to call on  the Catholic rulers and freemen alike of Europe to aid in the defence of Christiandom. The Envoys are accompanied by Bohemian and Polish Priests who spread the word that Noghai is a false catholic, and the agent of heathens bent on ravaging Europe, and burning Rome to the ground, noting the historic Mongol massacres in eastern europe.  Efforts to repair and strengthen the defences of Krakow and Lesser Poland continue, while masons, and craftsmen are sent to help the Polish nobles reinforce their own defences. Wenceslaus orders more troops levies from Bohemia to help reinforce the defences bringing the army to 25,000 bohemians and poles, 5,000 hapsburg forces, and 7,600 imperial forces.


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


 * Kingdom of Denmark: With the outbreak of armed conflict between the Danish Crown and the nobility, King Eric decides to set sail. He, the royal court, and his supporters leave Zealand by ship and first travel to Aalholm Castle on an island south of Lolland, which they set up as a military garrison loyal to him at the mighty fortress, and then continue on to Sønderborg Castle on the coast of southern Jutland where the Danish court establishes its provisional seat. In letters sent out across the country to other towns, King Eric denounces his brother Christopher as an illegitimate usurper and traitor who became a puppet of corrupt magnates and foreigners that are trying to sell off Denmark. He portrays himself as a defender of the peasantry and also appeals to loyalist nobles, saying that his actions were only directed against the corrupt traitors and he was defending the kingdom from abuses by these greedy usurers and magnates. Any rebels that persist will be hanged, but those that surrender will be allowed to keep a fraction of their former wealth, as a sign of Eric's magnanimity. The Pope, far away in Rome, is being deceived by these devil worshipers. He also condemns his former ally King Birger for opportunistically siding with the corrupt nobles in trying to destroy his country, and that the rightful king will confront all traitors as well as foreign threats. Not only are the magnates abusing the people but they are traitors giving away parts of the country to Sweden, say Eric's messages circulated by his supporters. Eric travels across Jutland and rallies support among the people and the loyalist nobles, raising an army in the process, which is gathering at Sønderborg and other fortresses in southern Jutland. Some 9,000 troops are gathered so far, and is expected the numbers will grow in time. In the meantime, Count Henry I of Holstein, an ally of the Danish king to whom he owes his position, also acts as a loyal vassal and sends 2,500 German troops from Holstein to join the Danish army at Sønderborg, ready to fight for Eric against the rebels and the Swedes. Henry also makes diplomatic overtures on Eric's behalf, asking other north German states and representatives of other countries throughout Europe for support and to hire mercenaries to fight for the rightful King of Denmark. (MOD RESPONSE) This includes hiring Italian mercenaries as per the message sent out by Milan last year. (MILAN RESPONSE) For now no attempt is made to attack Zealand, but instead King Eric is first consolidating his strength and making sure that the rest of the kingdom remains loyal to him. More of his propaganda is circulated to peasants and nobles alike through his messengers, making sure to emphasize that Christopher is selling out all of them to tyrannical magnates that want to overburden the peasants and to foreigners that want to conquer the country, and that Eric is the only one standing up for them to protect the people from this tyranny. Nobles are promised a part of the spoils of the magnates' wealth for siding with Eric. It is expected that large parts of Denmark will remain loyal as Christopher and these rebels have never been popular.
 * County of Holstein: As a loyal vassal Henry I continues to aid King Eric, sending Holsteinian infantry to assist him in war, and also begins gathering support diplomatically from other north German states. At home, the county establishes more small towns in order to develop Holstein, having been unified from among several different smaller counties recently by the Danish king.