Imperial Expansion of Varronia[]
Background[]
Attempts of imperial expansion of Varronia were based on two very different sources of information. First one were Vikings living on Iceland, who spoke about colonies and settlements in "far west", where is great landmass. This sources was found when Emperor Romanos recruited Vikings to restore strength of Varangian Guard. Second was from diaries of Italian captain who declared he is far ancestor of Punic/Carthagene captains, who explored "western landmass", but Carthago Republic was not able to fully use this potential, as it was in perpetual wars with Romans. This source was found by Greek-Roman captain Leonidus Varro in post-Dark Age era.
Despite fascination and admire from Emperor Romanos, no attempt of exploration and colonization of "western landmass" happened, as Emperor reign was focused to restore stability, prosperity and defense of Empire and could not risk.
First real attempt was, to much confusion, not initiated by any Emperor, even by Andronikos "The Navigator". Initiators of first attempt was First Regency Council in 1364. Despite it was Regency Council, Imperial Prince Arcadius, when reached adulthood, accepted these efforts and goals and continued with exploration of "western landmass".
Early years[]
Expeditions[]
Arcadius wanted to use both sources - Vikings and "Punic" - and so he formed two different expeditions. Northern and Southern. Leonidus Varro was appointed as commander of "Punic" southern expedition and Harald Andlaron, Varangian officer and Viking chieftain, got order to lead "Viking" northern expedition.
To support expedition efforts, Emperor decided that anyone can join expedition and anyone who will join, will reach position of citizenship within Roman Empire.
Northern Expedition[]
First results came from "Northern" expedition, which at first arrived to Greenland and found remnants of old Viking settlements with very few surviving farmers and ancestors. Settlements were abandoned because of terrible climate conditions of "Little Ice Age". However, commander Harald achieved support from Emperor to restore old settlements and declared Greenland as imperial territory and first trans-oceanic colony of Empire, named "New Romania" with capital settlement "New Rome". While this settlement is later twice abandoned and collapsed, after third attempt, New Rome became important port and supplying city with about 50,000 citizens, mostly Inuites and Vikings under rule of Empire.
Harald sent three smaller expedition - to Arcadius Gulf (OTL Hudson Bay), through river Tibera (OTL Saint Lawrence River) and to Northern Archipelago (OTL Newfoundland). Each expedition had goals to establish outposts and search for resources (fertile lands, animals, potential slaves, ores).
Tibera Expedition built in middle of river outpost New Constantinople (OTL Montreal), initiated contacts with locals and hunting for meat and furs. Arcadius Gulf expedition founded uninhabitable lands with lack of fertile lands, as lands were frozen because of Little Ice Age, but with resources, especially iron ore and coal. Northern Archipelago expedition found lands to new settlements, outposts and to shorten distance between imperial territories and new colonies, supported by cod fishery and nickle mining.
Each of "small" expeditions found large sources of quality woods and started lumber trade and export from colonies.
Reports about Northern Expedition reached Emperor Arcadius in 1376. Both, Emperor and Imperial Court, were amazed by successes and while costs were high, profits can be much higher with large territorial expansion. Especially after Iceland Commonwealth joined in loose form of confederation Roman Empire and paid tax from colonial efforts (Iceland Commonwealth later left Empire and was reconquered by Emperor Constantine XI in 1580)
Southern Expedition[]
If Northern Expedition was shock and celebrated for their successes, Southern Expedition totally stun Empire and Imperial Government and Imperial Court. Leonidus Varro informed Empire that they found massive and endless lands full of forests, fertile lands, with coasts rich on fishs. They met with ruins of large settlements and cities, but no people. These ruins were used as base of first "Varronian" colony.
This part of continent was named as "Varronia" in honor of Leonidus Varro, as he was able to lead expedition in much obscure and dangerous area, than Northerners.
Buildings were restored, fortification established and scout parties sent to three directs - north and south by coasts and west, in to depths of continent. Each expedition had goal to continue for one week in their scouting and then return. Except western scout party (whose bodies and skeletons were found decades later, mutilated and killed by arrows), northern and southern scout parties reported that continent is endless. Northerners were able to pass 165 miles, before they start return, but they found large bay with archipelago. Southern passed 189 miles and found another bay with archipelago.
Reports were sent to Empire, but arrived month after murder of Emperor Arcadius. His successor, younger brother Valerianus, was much less enthusiastic about expansion and exploration. He halted all exploration and external expansion in Varronia, but left continuation of expeditions and expansion in Northern territories, as long as they will be able to finance and organize them by themselves. On other hand, he fully supported internal development and increasing of number of colonists, sent resources, technologies, building agriculture, irrigation and roads.
Growth to War (1376-1590)[]
Baldwin Locomotive Factory, New Alexandria, 1533
Very soon, both continents and most of it islands, became important point of interest of the Roman Empire. Caribbean islands transformed in to large sugar-cane and tobacco plantations with thousands tonns export to Empire, Portugal, African Union and England. City St. Angelo at New Crete (OTL Cuba) grew from 100 settlers in 1376 to 50,000 citizens in 1420, while island of St. Michael (OTL Haiti) became largest sugar exporter in the world with output about 3,000,000 tonns of sugarcane, which eventually rose to 15,000,000 tonns in 1500.
North Varronia became exporter of fur, timber, tobacco and cotton with forming group of large coastal cities (New Constantinople, New Alexandria, New Rome). Aside of agricultural production, these colonies also produced large amount of silver and gold (which import was ban by imperial government to prevent devaluation of gold and silver by inflation), coal, iron, nickle or copper, important for early industrial revolution.
Total population increased from about 6,500 settlers under Emperor Valerianus II to 800,000 colonists in last year of Emperor Valerianus III reign (1432), through 2,5 million colonists under Tiberius IV until reached 15,000,000 citizens under Constantine XI in 1590.