Orissa (Principia Moderni II Map Game)

The Rajya of Orissa is a nation located on the Indian subcontinent. On the world scale, the country is fairly new, having being established in 1579 - after the collapse of Bengal following the assainassions of its government by Mahadi Inslam followers. The initial government was weak, and in 1588, a radical Hindu General overthrew the government and established the Rajya of Orissa. In 40 years, the country has taken great strides in the fields of trade, science and alliances.

Early Days
In 1588, a radical General overthrew the government, and established the Rajya of Orissa, with himself as Raja. He promised to lead the country on a path of Hinduism and to rid it of the Muslim menace. One of his first acts was to send out scouts to form alliances with his nations, and form a new navy using old Bengali ships and a few Orissan ones. By the next year, he had learned about the nation of Rajputana, and had send them an alliance offer. Muslims mosques were also destroyed in the same year, and factories making cannon and cannon balls were ordered to be constructed.

His efforts bore fruits, and in 1590 the Rajputs accepted the alliance, and sent a few Sikh commanders to train the Orissan army on the Raja's request. In the following years, the Orissan army began to be properly trained, and a merchant fleet was established. Ammunition began to flow to the army, and helped them train. However, a cold front hit the crops, and it took a few years for the crop growth to recover. Trading also began to boom between nations, and Orissa began to trade extensively with the nations to the south - to make their economy reliant on Orissan trade. Trading ships also headed out to Europe to make contact with the Venetians and Russians and gain a greater market for their spices.

The return of the trading ships and their evidence to prove that Venice was still around convinced the Raja that Europe was an untapped market, and this would become the basis for the establishment of the NOC in the years to come. The Raja then looked southward, and began to gain control of the economy of the nations to his south by supplying them with cannons and ammunition in return for money and influence. This soon led to the two nations becoming vassals of the country, as they became solely reliant on Orissan for trading. Yet this was not all. The Raja had taken quite fancy to Berar's Rani, and married her in 1595 - and this helped him to solidify his position further in the region.

The Printing Revolution
In 1596, the rediscovered Printing Press began to be put to good use. Bhagvat Gitas began to be printed in their hundreds, and a few of the copies were handed to military commanders. The Presses also began to print out anti-Muslim leaflets and leaflets saying that Muslims should convert back to Hinduism. In the same year, the Raja began to get his army ready to invade Bengal, a nation he wanted revenge from. Some good news had also arrived, as the Rani announched she was pregnant, and in the following year gave birth to a daughter. The Raja did not care that his first child was a daughter, and took her into his arms with a warm heart.

In this time, the vassals saw their economy grow, and their armies grow too. The Army of Orissa continued to recieve attention, and was growing to become one of the largest in the region. This army had not been tested yet, and only looked good on paper - with their real capibilities still unknown.

All this changed. In 1600, the Orissan army invaded the Bengalis to have their revenge. Making some quick progress, they took many villages and towns over 2 years, always keeping the Bengalis on the back foot. Many thought that victory was not that far off, although progress was slow. Many divisions for the army were made and sent to the front line. Yet, after many Bengali counter-attacks, the Orissan army had been pushed back to the border regions. The army had no fault, the Bengali army was too large to continue assults against.

Propoganda reached new heights after the war, and whatever remaining muslims who were still left either converted or fled the country. Spice ships also headed out to Europe to trade, and to help the country's economy recover. New economic policies were implimented and helped the state regain a lot of money. This led to a masterstroke by the Raja in 1610, when he established a collective navy for Berar, Orissa and Godavari. Using the money from the treasury, warships and battleships are built, and old and captured ships are updated.

In the next year, a lot of crucial events happened. Due to the Rani's insistance, Berar was incorporated into Orissa, and districts were made. The new areas began to see a small amount of schools constructed and more trade occur as merchants could now easily sell products. Because the area has many cultural similarities with the Orissans, the incoporation into Orissa was not a problem for most. The SOC was also established by the Raja, a company created to increase trades and profits along with Orissan influence with the advantage on not having to answer back to the Raja after every crucial event. Its first area of operation was to exert complete influence over Mataram, whom the Raja wanted to vassalise to save Hinduism in the region.

Trimurt Hinduism
In 1612, a new form of Hinduism emerged in Orissa, Trimurt Hinduism. It promised its followers equality and the abolishment of the caste system, becuase it believed " the lower caste may have been created from Bhraman's feet, yet the feet are as useful as the head". The Raja did nothing as he presumed it would blow over. Instead he focused on other matters, such as fully vassalising the Matarami and opening new naval academies.

For a little while, it seemed like the Raja's stance might have actually been correct, and the movement went underground. Meanwhile, after Mataram's insistance - a blockade of Sesak was set up. This blockade was led by the Rajkumari herself, and continued for a good couple of years. Eventually, the Sesaki economy collapsed as immigrants came from Mataram and set up their homes in the areas being cleared by the army and the blockade led to its trade collapsing. The Rajkumari was hailed as a hero and Mataram expanded its borders.

Yet, in the meanwhile, Trimurt Hinduism had begun to grow again. In the villages and dark alleyways of small towns and cities, people converted. Most of these were peasants who wanted a better life and to rid themselves of the caste system. The Raja is proved wrong, yet this is overlooked as celebrations about the Rajkumari's success reach the populace. With the assurance that the SOC is the dominant trading power in the area, the company began to plan the establishment of a colony in the area for Bhramins trying to escape the conversion attempts. This sees their stock sales increase manyfold, and by the next year, they have the sufficient funds to set up a colony. Many Bhramin families are chosen, and the large convoy sets off for Sabah in 1616 - making landfall a few weeks later. This led to an increase in the SOC's funding, and the greatening of their monopoly on SE Asian trade.

However, the Raja has seen the success of the SOC, and begins to wonder if a company should be established for trade in the west too. He also thought about using the army to suppress the growing conversion but refrained, and instead focused on trading. His ignorance of the new religion allowed the SOC to set up a new colony almost exclusively for the followers of Trimurt Hinduism. In the land named Machrajdhani (Land of the Fish), the SOC established a new colony in 1617 and it is first year saw many travelling to escape the hardships. However, the first colonists are soon harrased by the native Maori, yet it was not much and a small number of troops usually did the job of keeping them away.

Beginning of Enlightenment
A nobleman by the name of Chandrashekar Kumar discovered a planet he went on to name Vishnam in the same year (1617). The nobleman was from the North, but had fled south into more Hindu areas in the Muslim era in India. The Raja also founded the NOC or the Northern Oceans Company to conduct trading with European companies in a more orderly fashion, and he begins to see its rewards very quickly. Enabling the Comapny the right to declare alliances and buy special trade routes, the Raja hoped to see an increase in his influence around the world.

Foriegn Relations
Orissa holds various relations with many countries around the world. The country does not have many enemies, yet is vary of some countries on the planet.

Alliances
In the brief span Orissa has been on the planet, it has developed many allies and trading partners to help it become an economic giant on the sub-continent.

Positive

 * Rajputana - Orissa has an alliance and a trading pact with the country and continues to enjoy good relations with the nation.
 * Brandenburg - A European power which has been on favourable terms since its discovery. An alliance was signed by the NOC and officialised by the Raja. The two enjoy extensive trading between each other's ports.
 * Venice - A power fabled by Old texts, rediscovered in 1594. An alliance was signed with the nation in 1622, and a mutual assistance pact was signed.
 * Ethiopia - A country which has always been on good terms with Orissa. It is allied with Orissa, and shares much trading. Recently, the two nations' scientists have been working together in Orissa
 * Russia - Another one of the fabled powers, the country has only recently made contact with the Orissans, and a trade deal has been signed by both nations.

Neutral

 * Scandinavia - A nation which is seen positively, but has some negative impact in the Royal Court due to their puppeting of Bengal.
 * China -
 * Japan -

Vassals
The country of Orissa has a few vassals which are closely associated with the country.

Colonies
Orissa currently has two colonies, yet the Raja is looking to expand his influence on the planet through more colonies, as soon as the funds are raised.

Wars
In a relatively short span of 50 years, Orissa as a country has fought 4 wars and 2 skirmishes.