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 ...

Map

Moderators

• Death: Curmudgeonly yours - Crim 01:38, October 14, 2019 (UTC)
• Famine: User:Nathan1123
• Pestilence: Feudy McPlagueface (talk)
• War: User:Tullin

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)

The Game

1350

The Jubilee of 1350 is celebrated in Rome, bringing thousands of pilgrims to be blessed by the pope and granted relief of purgatory. The central organization of these pilgrims are conducted at the Basilica of Saint John Latern and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. This event is greatly supported by both Petrarch and Briget of Sweden.

The Black Death continues to sweep through Europe, spreading across all of Sweden, Denmark, parts of Scotland, and all of Germany except Thuringia. It also spreads across the Baltic Sea, affecting all cities from Danzig to Riga, and surrounding coastal regions of Poland. By the end of the year, it breaks out in Reykavik and kills thousands of Iclanders. Cumulatively, the plague has killed tens of millions of people across the western world so far, further emphasizing the "Cult of Death".

A mass procession to Rome to seek support from the Holy Father, be it worldly or heavenly, begins to march out of Milan. Though it begins as a mob of peasants, priests begin to join the procession. As they march through Italy, they pick up followers from cities they pass. As priests and learned men join this procession from each town, those who could have otherwise helped the sick and dying are leaving in droves to seek spiritual guidance from the Pope.

The Black Death has caused the global population of the world to go down, as deaths per day have exceeded those of births, even including the hemispheres completely unaffected by the plague. This has exasparated the cooling temperatures of the "Little Ice Age", as a result of such a drastic loss of body heat. The winter of 1350 extends from September until March, causing prices of food to rise dramatically.

This affects of temperature greatly strains Iceland's control over Greenland, as much of the Nordic population of the island begins to dwindle, and suffer from frequent attacks of the Thule natives. The Mississippi culture goes into sharp decline at this point as well, as most of the urban settlements of their mound-based culture are abandoned around this time.

Duke Rudolph of Lorraine dies of the plague, and his son John assumes the title of Duke to replace him.

The Frisian lands occupied by Lothraingia are integrated into Hollandic rule.

Ibn Battuta leaves Fez to cross into Gibralter, and visit the Empire of Hispania. He visits the cities of Malaga and Grenada, admiring the works of art and architecture left behind by the older Caliphate of Cordoba from the days of Al-Andalus. Afterwards, he leaves back for Morocco and circuits around the cities of Marrakesh and Tangier, before returning to Fez.

John Maunderville travels along the Baltic coast to visit the settlements of the Teutonic knights, admiring all the work they do in crusading against the barbaric heathens. He tells them about the wonderful news he found in the far east, about all the Christian empires in central Asia and the churches that exist in India and China. After staying for a time in the Livonia lands, he continues along the Baltic coast to settle in Danzig.

The Marathi scholar Namdev founds the Varkari sect of Hinduism in Pandharpur, in the Sultanate of Hindustan.

Juan Ruiz publishes a book of Spanish Romantic poetry, The Book of Good Love, dedicated to Emperor Peter I if Hispania.

As a single peasent family in Germany are aflicted by the plague and can no longer provide for their children, a baby is anonymously deposited at the doorstep of the Burgermeister of Lubeck. The baby is wrapped in a crimson cloak, with no identifiable features except a single pendant that reads "Claus", which is a Germanic colloquial form of Nicholas.

• Iceland: The population grows to 29.940. The entire military is ordered to Greenland to try and kill every single Inuit they come into contact with. The Duchy of Greenland is given to Arnar Róbertsson son of Róbert Arnarsson. The order of Nordic Piety is given to a priest in Dauðsmansbær. The Cardinals of Iceland meet to discuss the plague and other matters in the world, Greenlanders are converted to Catholicism, the Cardinals blame Islam for the plague since they took the true fate from the Middle East and the Pope is invited to send Cardinals to Iceland to protect them  from the plague in a small Village of Manors in Greenland named “The Little Vatican”(Papal Response Needed). Domestic travel is banned.
• Nyazwe: The census conducted by the Ministry of Land delivers its report to the Hamadzese. The census reveals that the population for Nyazwe as of 1340 was 3,400,308 citizens, with 23,320 horses, and 300,000 head of cattle and other livestock. Of the existing population, at least 30% of the citizenry had been born or migrated to the lands south of the Limpopo River, or were members of the Nguni were decided to stay and integrate into the new state of affairs. Nyazwe incursions into the lands of the Khoisan (OTL Namibia) continue, with many of the territories in the east obtained through force of arms and the destruction of San homesteads and killing of livestock. Thousands of San people flee the land for areas deeper into the west, hoping that they can escape from the blade and horses of the Shona armies invading their homeland. Many thousands of Khoisan women are dragged off as captives by the victorious Shona warriors, who quickly bed them and father offspring with their new wives. As is tradition, many of the lands in the west are handed over to the warriors as a form of gratitude, giving them a stake in the lands that they conquered, and working to ensure their security from the San warriors, who though disorganized, are seeking to retake their homes. In spite of their best efforts, the armies of Nyazwe are simply too overpowering, boasting large numbers the San cannot match in battle. Elsewhere, the development of the trade links with the outside world continue, with trade to Persia, India, and Arabia continue, bringing in various goods such as exotic fruits, cotton, silks, and artwork, in exchange for gold, copper, coal, and sorghum crops. These trade serve to ensure the continued growth of Nyazwe's domestic economy, especially with the development of roads and mines throughout the country, and the expansion of the urban population of the country. Indeed, the institutions of authority as wielded by the Hamadzese and personified through the Zvakane, are established in various districts throughout Nyazwe. Having fine-tuned the district government structure left by his father, Akashinga ensures that all of the districts of the realm are fully staffed by men of letters and numbers, with a decent grasp of coordinating men and material. Unlike many sections of the interior in the far north, the developments in terms of administration, monetization of the economy, and adoption of the Faraic philosophies, are fully imported into the south and the new territories of the country, where the citizens there seek to start anew in the image of the state they now belong too. While it can be said that those within the core territories of Nyazwe are more traditional in their livelihoods and practices, those Shona migrating to new parts of the country have fully adopted the edicts of the state into their lives, and view it as their obligation to bring the light of civilization advocated by their ruler and his subordinates, to the new lands conquered by their people. Migration is by and large, centrally-managed by the state, which takes the time to survey the new lands and organize the movement of people to these areas, with a full compliment of mutauri to enforce Faraic doctrines, and muperekedzi to tutor the young in numbers and letters.
• Papal States: Pope Clement V works in the organization of the Jubilee of 1350. A division of the Papal Army is created to be responsible for providing security and to prevent crimes in Rome. Large numbers of pilgrins arrive in the city for the Jubilee. Elena Cimorelli is one of these people, she is a fourteen years old young girl from Ostia and is visiting Rome with her widowed mother, her older brother and her sister-in-law. Her parents were pious and devout. The pope gives his blessings to all those visiting the city. The processions in honor to the Divine Mercy continues this year and the crownd following it is large than last year due to the great number of pilgrins that arrived in the city. The phrase "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world" turned into a popular prayer. After each procession the pope falls to his knees in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament begging God for the end of the Plague. After attending one of these processions during her stay in Rome, Elena Cimorelli is very impressed by the idea of the Christ's Infinity Mercy and the works of charity done by the Order of Divine Mercy. She begins to develop the idea of joining the order and starts to pray asking for Gods guidance. Clement continues to do fast and to wear clothes of a Benedictine monk as penitence for the sins of the Church. His serval cat, Gertrude, give him some confort during this time of calamity. Across the Papal States, the religious orders and physicians continue to help the sick in the way that they can. To the procession that is coming to Rome from Milan, Clement give his blessings to these people and says that God and the pope will be very happy if they go helping those in need across Italy [MOD response needed, please].
• Sweden-Norway: King Magnus writes a letter to the Diocese of Linköping in Spring, decreeing that in light of the plague which has ravaged all of Norway and Sweden this year, the people must attend church, and fast on fridays. A man named Tidericus is captured in Gotland, accused of poisoning the wells there, and spreading the plague on order of Jews, he is burned at the stake in July. As this story spreads through the country, many people are accused of being "Jews", and are blamed for the plague and executed. Scenes of death are seen across both countries, as entire villages are decimated with bodies piling up. Some jarls, anxious about this wave of death, move and settle their entire courts and homes further up north, to the sparsely populated Lappland and Västerbotten. Prince Eric, heir to the throne of both countries, dies in the winter at Tre Kronor castle from the plague. At the time of his death, a large amount of servants and nobles at the castle are already infected from the disease, the King therefore orders that they must be quarantined. Prince Haakon therefore becomes heir to the throne. The King also writes to the Pope and Bridget, asking him what can be done to stop the plague, he speculates that it is the cause of God's wrath at the sinners, and only repentance will keep it at bay.
• Sultanate of Hindustan: A bazaar is constructed in the Nizamuddin Area and Nizamuddin continues to expand. Being open to all faiths, the non-Muslims also visit the Sufi shrines and the Sufi shrines have become beacons of communal harmony in the areas where they are situated. The Sufis appeal to the non-Muslims as they promote love, openness and tolerance. The construction of roads, trade routes and serais continues. The Waqf institutions continue opening and maintaining Bimaristans (Hospitals), pharmacies and small schools of religious education for Muslims handled by the Chishtiyya Sufis. The Waqf institutions are supported by the Zakat part of the treasury. The Diwan-i-Amir-Kohi continues propagating better farming and irrigation practices. The many foreign scholars in the Madrassas, the nobles and most importantly his three eldest sons help him come up with a concrete plan for some major reforms to ensure stability in the Empire and peaceful succession from Emperor to Emperor. The first reforms come to the Chalisa (The group of 40 nobles), which is responsible for running the Sultanate. The Chalisa had in reality been a group of fewer than 25 nobles. 40 posts are created for the Chalisa and are supposed to be occupied at all times. 15 posts are reserved for the Governors of the provinces (called Nazim; meaning deputy). 9 posts are reserved for the Shiqdars (district heads) of the districts of Delhi, Uch, Samana, Bhakkar, Ajodhan, Hansi, Lahore, Multan and Dipalpur (These districts are under the direct control of the Sultan, the revenue is collected by his officers). The Shiqdar of Delhi is also the head of the Delhi civic authority. One of the posts is hereditary, reserved for the Belur Sultan of the Hoysala dynasty. Then there are posts for the Sultan, the Wazir, the Ariz-i-Mamalik (responsible for recruitment and payment of salaries), the Sar-i-Jalandar (Head of the Sultan’s bodyguards), the Sadar-i-Sadur (responsible for Waqf institutions and all religious institutions, scholars and men of piety), Dabir-i-Mamalik (proto-foreign minister), Qazi-i-Mamalik (Head of Judicial Department), Barid-i-Mamalik (Head of Intelligence), Head of the Diwan-i-Amir-kohi (Agriculture department), the nominee to the throne, the head of the army, and the rest 4 posts are reserved for influential/important men of religion, nobles and merchants to be nominated by the Sultan. This just leads to an expansion of the Chalisa and only some powerless nobles are dropped from the group. A list of rules is drafted by the Chalisa for the functioning of the institution. The institution is upheld as the foremost body for the administration of the Sultanate. A specified succession law is made, the Sultan must nominate a successor upon acceding the throne and if the Sultan dies without nominating a successor, the Chalisa shall elect the successor from among the Sultan’s sons or the Sultan’s brothers (if the Sultan doesnt have any living sons) or the Sultan’s nephews (if the Sultan doesn’t have any living brothers) or from among themselves (if the above criteria are not met). The Sultan nominates the members of the Chalisa and they get to work on the other planned reforms.
• Duumvirate of Cilicia: the people are already to liberate,the capital and occupied them so afterwhile the crusadermens reconquet the whole territories and being liberate many people who were 'christians' the muslims are getting kicked off by the Cilicians, sent by 12,00 mens the state also they liberate the capital at the whole victory scream! the emirate of cilicia is in decline rise to the Christians's Cilicia on southern anatolia! afterwhile they celebrate a among of food festival and celebrate the victory an christians knight who liberate the capital is elected as the king and overall run the territorial by happinesse of the freedom.
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Harba Lorifa": After years of Rebellion, frisian peasantry, merchants and nobility finaly end their resistance. So many lower nobility and merchants from Holland decide to take part in the Government of Frisia, as they seek greatness in the frisians lands. A frisia which is to be centrally run by feudal law instead of the laws of force and banditry, where the people actualy get represented. Where the law is fair and not biased and most of all available for all, the Rich and the poor one justice under God. Now the Duchy of Frisia being fully part of Lotharingia, and the Emperor delcaring it once more fully Roman land. So the Empire has been expanded, an Empire who's by the Black death. This plague killing great amouths of the empire, this causing a great labour shortage. As the peasantry is dying in great numbers, allready around 10 to 20% peasantry dying. While the nobilities dies a smaller proportion, this does not mean they are spared at all. The only reason for nobility not dying in as great proportions is due to the fact they have money to afford better hygene and often live more remote from the densely inhabited cities. Cities and towncentres being places where the plague prevails, as there local trade and animals are brought to. This to exchange goods and earn money, often in bigger cities that means having trade from ships and warehouses. These having quite often rats, and other Rodents such as Squirrels. Some who belive in that The rodents are not a problem but are instead punishers for Human sin, being the Saint Columbanus Followers. Their movement alltough small is popular in the Wadden islands, where the black death is slightly softer hitting. Thus they don't belive it is as bad as it is, nor that cruel. This making their Rethoric even stronger, and they even begin to protect the Squirrels. Protecting them from the so called Rodent Crusade, which was launched by Archduke John II as revenge against squirrels for killing John I. While In Loraine Emperor John, looking at the age and record of little John. As the Emperor could clearly see that Little john did not have any remorse when seeing the boddy of his Father, this fact terrifying. As a leader without remorse could easly turn into a mercyless killer, who does not care about the ideals of christ. So Emperor John Institutes a Regency in Lorainne under Caroline of Brabant who's 22 years old, and a Daughter John I but due to fact that she is a women she could not inherit the Archduchy. While in Aachen the emperor decides to do an action known to be unpopular, that being resurecting the Praetorian guard. As the emperor wants to ensure his own safety, this guard Recruiting only from the peasantry. Even if controversial the emperor promisses that the Praetorian guard will not exceed 1.000 soldiers ever in membership and that it will currently only be 200 members. John also tells them that nations from who the cityziens are will recieve a small monetary compensation, and that these soldiers will only be used inside the empire. That outside the empire, and for campaigns togheter with their nations he will allow the Nobility to be the Primary protection of himself.
• Swiss Confederacy: As diplomats report a lessening of the Black Death in the Italian peninsula, the Central Council sends out some mercenaries and physicians to the Papal States via the Canton of Uri to help them recover from the horrible damage inflicted by the disease. (Papal response) The rest of the Swiss borders remain closed, however, and physicians and the religious orders within the Confederacy work hard to aid those afflicted by the plague. Bishop of Chur and Cardinal Ulrich V von Lenzburg publicly praises the labours of the religious orders, particularly the Order of Divine Mercy, against the plague. The long winter of 1350 forces further use of food stockpiling, and the Central Council decides to send an envoy to the Confederacy's trade allies the Republic of Milan, offering to send physicians and nuns to Milan in exchange for crops and other foodstuffs from Milan. (Milan response) The joint military of the Swiss Confederacy continues to guard the mountain passes on the borders of the nation, and several cities such as Zürich keep their city gates shut. With the joining of the new Canton of Aargau, mercenaries are also sent to guard Aargau's borders and some physicians travel there as well. The Canton of Aargau is also given a seat on the Central Council, represented by an elected burgomaster rather than a hereditary Count, expanding the Council's size to sixteen.
• Duchy of Eiru: As a particularly bad winter leads to crop failures in the aftermath of the plague outbreaks which are still simmering central authority begins to collapse and local chiefs begin to assert control with firm control only remaining around the Pale.
• Jarldom of Vinland:The beothukian offensive begins again with reneved fervor and might.The jarl herself leading the royal cavalry which boosts their morale greatly. (ALGO NEEDED)
• Tian China: The efforts to fight the plague continue throughout this year, with the emperor continuing to freverently push for any measure necessary to fight the plague, continuing to order the slaughter of the infected and the mass burnings of plague victims bodies, in addition to the slaughter of those animals deemed unclean, which has by this point proven to be a somewhat effective strategy against the disease, and thus one which is pushed in many places (this is of course because of the fact that several of these animals coincidental carry the fleas which spread the disease, but several types of animals which don’t contribute are also being slaughtered and several are missed, since the current pattern of targets is based more on superstition than anything else, and thus nobody knows exactly which of these animals are actully spreading it or if any of them are, and this strategy is mostly continued because of its success due to ridding infected areas of several vectors to the disease). The famine only ends up growing worse as a result of the severe winter this year, but the mass deaths that result from this have the effect of beginning to slow the spread of the plague even further, as the dead victims can not easily spread the disease since there bodies are burned, and the current mesures in place also help to slow it. However, not wanting to see the famine continue to worsen due to the severe effects on manpower and productivity it has caused so far and the fear of worse winters in the future, massive amounts of food from elsewhere in the empire continue to be imported into the region in an effort to combat the plague, and the local officials continue doing there best to get every able bodied person, man and woman, who is not infected with the plague back into the fields for the next harvest, in the hopes of providing enough of a boost in food production for these areas next year to alleviate the affects of the crop failures and shortages caused by the severe winters and plague. In affect, these areas are ordered too temporarily return to a form of sustinace farming, as every hand is needed to prevent the famine getting worse, and even the nobility and officials who would normally be exempt from this kind of manual labor are forced to take to the fields for at least part of the year to make more food if they don’t serve a vital role in administering the areas affected currently and directing their quarantine. Meanwhile, on the other side of China, the crown prince finally arrives in Chinese Manchuria, being enlisted in the garrison of the imperial army there as a common soldier despite his rank, in the hopes of forcing him to toughen up, as he begins his grabbing near the end of this year well his younger half brother continues to be personally educated by the Emperor, a clear sign of favouratism and a privilege even the crown prince was not granted. Meanwhile, in Taiwan, the plague eventully burns itself out as it runs into rural spread out areas and runs out of people to infect. However, by the time it does so, a large portion of the local population has been wiped out by the disease, and although the Chinese settled population were affected in large amounts, the natives suffered far higher casulty rates as a result of the disease due to the lack of exposure to the disease previously and their lack of exposure to mainland diseases in general before this, even depopulating some parts of the island, especially in our heavily urbanized (for the area) vassal kingdoms. In an effort to take advantage of this temporary demographic advantage and further cement imperial control in the area, large amounts of setters from regions specifically chosen because they were far away from the plague effected areas begin being brought to the island in much greater numbers than before, begging to settle in huge amounts in those areas which were depopulated by the plague or had lower populations, with especially large concentrations in the cities and on the coastlines, which begin to spread out into more rural areas by the end of the year, even pushing the borders with the neighboring kingdoms slightly as empty land is claimed despite the border.
• Teutonic Order: Glory to the Order, Our troops with the Bohemians have defeated and pushed back the Novogorod army out of our land at the Battle of Dorpat and because of this we will launch a Counter-Offensive to break the siege at Pskov and take the city.We will use 35,000 troops to launch a assault on Novgorod positions and defenses in Pskov (Algo Needed). These troops will be equipped with Bohemian Handcannons to give us a edge in battle. The Grand-Master is fascinated by the arrival of John Maunderville and is pleased of the tales of Christianity spreading to lands in the east. But bad news has arrived as well with the Black Plague infecting everything from Malbouk to Riga.The Grand-Master and most of the government has evacuated Malbouk to Reval. The Cities of Koningsberg,Memel,and Riga are put under Quarantine and to deal with the bodies we dig holes to dump them in and bury while giving them a proper Catholic ceremony. The Grand-Master advises people who have not been infected by the Plague to move to Livonia and Estonia for the time being.in other news the first Artushoft is made. Lidizbark Castle is built in the County of Prussia. Schwetz Castle is also built in Elblag. More people from German lands escaping the plague become farmers in the County of Memel and the County of Courland raising crop production and lowing the price. It has seem that the Winter will last longer but the Winter Shelters we built in the past years help poor people find somewhere warm.
• Poland-Bohemia: With the recent heavy casualties ffrom both battle and the plague Polish forces work more closely with Algirdas's Lituhanians. Conrad having become close friends and companions with the Lithuanian duke offers him the hand his sister Elizabeth due to the recent passing of Duke Algirdas first wife specially given that Algridas doesnt have a male heir yet, However he asks that Algridas take up the Catholic and slowly bring his people into the fold of the loving church, noting that the Poles, and the catholic church have always proven to back Lithuanian interests. He also asks Duke Algirdas to allow for one more year of rest so that the coalition forces can prepare and decides if it would be best to push deeper into Novogrod, or to push south and neutralize the possiblities of a Rus offensive from the Galicia or Smolesk (Mod Response Please) Conrad also grants Algirdas influence over the management of the Polish forces to allow for better cooperation. More siege weapons are brought in now from Warsawa and 5,000 reserves there are also brought in to replenish th ranks while 10 k soldiers remain defending the Southern Border from Lublin.  The bodies of the deceased in Bohemia, and Poland are burned to prevent spreading. Falling in line with Papal States The crownissues a ban on the persecution of jews, though this may also be because of the growing importance of the jewish community the financing of the Polish crown as the Bohemian silver starts to devalue due to the large scale distribution of the Groschen over the last few decades due to conflict. To reinforce The crown's finances silver mines in polish territory are opened up near Krakow (OTL)  and the proceeds made from the sales of lands formerly belonging to Piast family are managed strictly for the war effort and for combating the plague. The order of Divine Mercy's clean habits show some benefit as the death toll east of the Vistula is less then that inthe densely populated Western parts. Algirdas is baptized as Duke Stanislovas I Olgeird with Conrad III as his god father, after a great mass is held in Warsawa after the Wedding to once more strenghten the bounds that exist between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland-Bohemia. 
  • Algirdas agrees to be baptized in Catholocism and to marry Elizabeth of Krakow.
  • Pole Dip: Conrad requests to purchase several cannons from his family in Padania so as to improve add to the ever growing arsenal of the Polish crown.
• Empire of Ethiopia: The slave trade continues to be bolstered by the capture of Muslim Somalis and Shewa from the newly conquered lands. The slaves are brought to the great slave pens outside Barari and sold at auction to Middle Eastern, Arab and Indian slave traders. While disdainful, the slave pens make up for some of the lost trade revenue. The lands of the captured slaves are awarded to the Chewa warrior caste. Settlement of the northern Horn and Shewa by the chewa and their families continues. In order to provide strongpoints to assert Ethiopian control, the chewa construct several forts in the conquered areas where the Chewa will gather in the event of war where they can hide their families. Due to the Chewa living in land granted by them to the Emperor, their loyalty is directly to the throne. The Ethiopian infrastructure network is maintained, now extending into nearby allied and vassal kingdoms. The town of Weri'kama Beri, however, built specifically to boost westward trade, begins to falter and decline as trade with the West is now nearly nonexistent.

1351

The Black Death begins to slow down across Western and Central Europe, as well as in the Far East. It continues to spread far, however. Outbreaks sweep through Hungary, Poland, and breaks out across Novgorod and Georgia. Minor outbreaks also occur in Ethiopia and Hindustan. The plague disappears from Iceland, reducing their population to 25,000.

Ibn Battuta travels south from Fez, in search of the mysterious lands of the Mali Empire. He spends the winter this year in the city of Sijilimasa. John Maunderville travels his way across northern Germany, staying in the Free City of Lubeck and other major cities of the Hanseatic League.

In Southeast Asia, the Sultanate of Brunei takes over most of the island of Borneo, becoming a great regional power in its own right. They begin supporting Islamic puppet states across Indonesia and Mindanao.

The Kingdom of Sukhotai is deposed, and Thailand comes under the control of the Kingdom of Ayutthia, while the Khmer Empire fades from history. King Ramathibodi supports the spread of Theravada Buddhism across Southeast Asia.

In Africa, new local powers appear as contenders for control over the areas of Bantu migrations. The main new states are the Kingdom of the Kongo and the Kingdom of Buganda.

The Ottoman Sultanate and the Byzantine Empire comes directly into fierce combat at this point. The Ottomans lead a coalition of Turkic beyliks and begin to carve up Byzantium's remaining Asiatic territories. They begin to send their military across the Dardanelles to land in Europe for the first time in their history.

In Augsburg, Abbess Margaret of Ebner establishes a mystical order of nuns known as the Friends of God.

After consumating their marriage, Elizabeth of Krakow and Duke Stanislovas I Olgeird has their first son, baptized as Wladyslaw Jagiello Olgierd.

After being rejected by the Burgermeister of Lubeck, the baby Claus is adopted by a common family of toy-makers. This family was distantly descended from the noble House of Kringle, who were originally the personal toymakers for the imperial royal family in the days of the Hohenstaufen Emperors. Keeping the baby's pendant and cloak a secret, the Kringle family baptizes the child as "Christopher".

• Free City of Lübeck: The putrid scent of death rolls over the Baltic with each passing wave. Bodies regularly wash up along the shores of Lübeck and the Travesmünde. The pestilence gripping Europe does not spare Lübeck or Hamburg. Though the Hansa offers loans to its members, non-aligned states are on their own. As many as 60% of Hamburg's population dies or will die from the Black Plague. Lübeck's advantage has always been its central position in northern Germany. Now, its position is contributing to its death rate. Still, it faces better than Denmark. With decades of Lübeck monopolies, embargoes, and now revolts, Denmark should be in a state of chaos. Lübeck rallies administrations on Fyn, Schleswig, and other parts of Jutland to declare independence from the Danish crown. The internal trading network of the Hanseatic League keeps famine from spilling into all the parts of the League, including Lübeck. Thanks to these traders, the death toll in Lübeck is prevented from rising. The salt trade out of Brunswick-Lüneburg allows northern Germany to scrape by, especially in larger cities. The transport of salt and heavy demand of the stuff means several new caravans, wagons, and stables are built. The League works desperately to move its product efficiently and quickly. In Hamburg, priests and nuns turn St. Mary's Church into a makeshift hospital. To accommodate for the demand for medical practitioners, these members of the clergy take it upon themselves to administer what medical help they know. Rudolph of Hamburg makes his name known as one of the few doctors to truly help teach these clergy members about medicine - such as it is at the time - and herbalism. He provides a new, formalized school of thought around medical instruction. Many priests who risk their lives trying to heal the sick catch the bubonic plague themselves. Ties with Bremen continue to grow as Hamburg shares this educational model with the city-state. By December, the weaknesses and strengths of the Hanseatic League have been revealed. The Rat convenes in Lübeck and in Hamburg. A Constitution for the Hanseatic League is drafted in December. Among many other trading provisions, it details what the Guilds can and cannot do. It also declares Bremen, Rostock, and Holstein-Kiel to be core members of an inner trading bloc and confederation within the Hanseatic League. This confederation would operate not unlike the Swiss Confederacy, with each core member being called a Meristätte - Sea State. Invitations are sent out to each proposed Meristätte. (Mod Response needed)
  • A 60% majority of states in the Hanseatic League ratifies the constitution, including all the core members
• Duumvirate of Cilicia: As the Christians knight he become king of the state and show at their blade,in execllent at the across of cair most of citizen,continue to occupied their village and agriculture in the southern Anatolia to truly help their own nobless's law,they open most of priest to establishs church the Armenian catholic state of the great house of Cilicia has been headquartering in lebanon and in Armenia to call at the Christianity for Jesus Christ, at sis they occupied the border and producting food trades as then they establish university and other village that encounter in the middle east and, anatolia the king establish law by December,most of people celebrate for Christmas and caroling at their chant on the holy see of cilicia and continue agriculturing and,producing foods and building village on southern Anatolia also formalized many church later the people gonna invade Abbasid caliphate and continue to fight it at their holy victory.
• Mali Empire: At the end of last year, the civil war in Mali finally came to an end. Niani was placed under siege by Ayyob's forces, and Abu Bakr III was forced to flee with his wives out of the city, but he was shot by archers before he could escape. Internally, this did not severly disrupt the every-day lives of most people in the nation, as the only actual fighting that took place was largely focused on military maneuvers and political deals. Still, a lot of institutions created by Mansa Musa had been severely damaged, so Ayyob pushed forward to quickly rebuild the nation. The supply depots along the caravan trade routes were the first to be reconstructed, as Mali desperately depends on outside trade to sell their resources to the larger nations of Africa. Although all the trade Mali once had was not recovered in a single year, they did establish the caravan trade route going to Morocco first and foremost, formally ending the brief years of Malian isolation. He sent an additional 15,000 troops to occupy Waalo and integrate them back into the nation, which previously had no central government, and establish peace in preparation for reconstructing Dakar next year. Ayyob used the civil war to his political advantage as well, and executed many of the feudal lords that were allied to Abu Bakr, assuming direct control over their titles. This was most effective in Mali proper around the Niger river, where he established a bureaucracy of governors along the border to the Atlantic coastal natives. He also looked towards the expansion of new settlements as well in the same region, sending Islamic missions and settlements south of the Senegal river into the terra incognita. The secret societies of Manding culture, established late in the reign of Mansa Musa, are further promoted and propogated by Ayyob, especially across the fringes of the empire in Kanem-Bornu and Nigeria. Larger military presence is kept in Nigeria as well, knowing the Oyo supported his younger brother as Mansa, poses a possible threat in the region. 
• Poland-Bohemia: Efforts by crown officials to deal with the deceased continue, with pyres continuing burn non stop. The overall population of Western Poland declines by about 30 % particularly around Krakow which losses 40 % of its population. The black death has devastated the population of Bohemia, this leads to great strain on the finances and resources of the kingdom due to the ongoing provisioning of the war to the east. Many of the Bohemian nobles begin to show their discontent at the perceived plundering of Bohemia's wealth and manpower on Polish interests, however for now this leads to nothing as they remain loyal Ottokar who continues to support his nephew without a second thought, however his second son Heinrich lets it be known that he doesn't agree with the being ruled from Krakow or worse yet Warsawa, but without the support the backing of Ottokar or his heir Wenceslaus the Bohemian nobles remain quiet for the time being. Heinrich demands to know why his father wont move against his nephew pointing out that it has been Ottokar who ruled for him since he was a boy, Ottokar however tells his son to show respect as Conrad is continuing the work of his father and of their father in securing the legacy of the dynasty,  in private however the aging Ottokar begins to worry about the long term survival of the dynasty, and of the legacy of Wenceslaus II, and III. Ottokar sends a letter to his brother in law Stanislovas voicing these concerns and begging the Duke of Lithuania to remain a stedfast ally to his son and nephew and to the greater family , He also congratulates the Duke on his marriage, and conversion. Conrad furthermore outlines the benefits to the continued cooperation between the Lithuania and Poland though he is unsure how the union between Poland and Bohemia will fair once he is gone, or once Conrad passes as Conrad has failed to produce a male heir, and his daughter would be to young for a regency of both crowns to survive. Conrad III leads 10 k Bohemian troops to assist his Teutonic allies in the second siege of Poskov while the bulk of the Polish-forces remain camped alongside the Lithuanian forces due to the growing tensions between the Bohemians and the Poles. A strong sense of camaraderie starts to develop between the Poles and Lithuanians serving in the coalition together. The recent conversion of Stanislovas to Catholicism and his marriage to the now Duchess Elizabeth goes along way to endearing the man to them in the absence of Conrad. Warsawa continues to become the new focal point of crown  authority as the plague ravages Krakow and Southern Poland leading to Conrad moving most of his court and royal duties to Warsawa. 
• Sultanate of Hindustan: The current Sultan’s father, Sultan Alauddin Khilji had attempted to formalize and properly define the working of the various departments of his administration, but he had not succeeded in his efforts. Continuing with his reforms, the current Sultan formally establishes the departments and lays down rules regarding the functions of these departments. These departments are the Department of Religious Affairs (Diwan-i-Bisalat), the Department of Foreign Affairs (Diwan-i-Insha), the Department of Agriculture (Diwan-i-Amir-kohi), the Department of Intelligence, the Department of the Military (Diwan-i-Ariz), the Department of the Judiciary and the Bayt-ul-Mal (responsible for trade, commerce and finance). The departments are further strengthened. To prevent further revolts and establish control, the Sultanate adopts the Islamic policy of creating garrison towns to further trade and project control. Several garrison towns are established in Bihar and Bengal (namely Hajipur, Alipur (Banka), Ferozeabad (Rajshahi), Fatehabad (Kharagpur), Muhammadpur (Satkhira) and Sylhet). Small forts are constructed in these garrison towns. The construction of the Golconda Fort is started. The Sultanate continues with its policy of maintaining control over the Deccan using forts.   
• Teutonic Order: With the second Battle of Pskov ending in failure The Grand-Master stops anymore offensives to take the city and was thinking to end the war by surrendering. But before he could do that he caught the Black Plague and died. The People are tired of the defeats of the war and want answers on why they are losing. they blame the Generakapital and the Grand-Mashals for going soft on Novgorod. one of these people is Komtur of Koningsberg Winrich von Kniprode who states that the Monastic Order is outdated and unjust. so he leads a protest with large amounts of peasants in favor for a Monarchy. He marches outside the Grand-Palace demanding a regime change and writes a list of future reforms that he wants to happen to give for the pope the list says that he wants to have the Teutonic Order semi-Independent from the church.He wants to establish a Kingdom or a Duchy. and finally he wants to become leader of the nation(Papal Responds Needed). Narva Castle is built on the border with Novgorod. After some talks with Duke John II we are finally admitted to the HRE.Secret: We send a Diplomat to Novgorod to begin talks for a ceasefire in this war and come to a peace agreement that benefits both of us.(Mod Responds Needed) End of secret.
  • Papal diplomacy: Pope Clement V sees that some of these points are valid and reluctantly agrees. However he asks for the return of the Teutons to the Papal States and suggests the creation of a lay chilvaric order based in the rule of the Teutons to replace their militarily work in this new nation. This lay order will be semi-independent from the Church. The pontiff says that the Teuton veterans can help train the soldiers of this new order.   
  • Novgorod Diplomacy: With the intervention by Poland-Lithuania, Novgorod feels confident in its ability to hold the Teutonic Order off, and will continue fighting.
• Iceland: With the plague haven taken only an extra 4.000 lives the country rejoices and King Ólaf II is known in Iceland and Greenland as “The Great”. The Royal Theatre is constructed in Róbertstorg with it’s first play being about the Greenland Civil War. A daughter is born to the King and he names her Fríða, Ólaf wishes for her to be baptized by the pope himself. A compromise is proposed by the King proposing a creation of the County of Thule and giving it to a native chief along with 4 seats in the Greenland Parliament and 3 seats in the National Parliament (mod response needed)   
  • The native Thule people do not accept the proposal on the grounds that the Jarldom of Greenland gave them equal rights to the Norse, not separated
• Federation of Padinia: The Council of Padinia whilst the horrors of the black plague continue send messages to every Italian state interested with the proposal to join the Federation of Padinia, these states will be treated with the same respect as the current members on the condition they switch any non republican government they have to a republic and abide by the laws of Padinia. (Mod response needed). The plague continues to eat away at the population, A new movement begins in Florence with the belief that god is nothing more than a falsity created by the catholic church within hours of this movement beginning every single one of the 14 people who became a part of it in that short period mysteriously die of “unknown causes” a second less radical movement begins in Florence continuing to adopt more Original ideas with minor changes being made in the art and beliefs of smaller circles of people in Florence mostly based off of Roman art and beliefs outside of religion. Feudal tendencies also decline as the large loss of population makes serfdom and feudalism challenging to do succesfully.
  • Mod response: These republican states reject the proposal unilaterally.
• Swiss Confederacy: As the Black Plague continues to lessen in the Italian peninsula, the southern borders of the Confederacy at the Cantons of Bern, Uri and Glarus are re-opened and trade with the Republic of Milan and the other Padinian states resumes. However, the northern borders, including Aargau, remain closed and guarded by the joint military of the Confederacy. The city of Zürich reopens its gates and resumes trade with surrounding cities, though the position of the city's guild has been weakened by the plague-imposed isolation and Cardinal de Besse's corruption scandal. The religious orders in the Confederacy, including the Mercedines, Benedictines, Carmelites and the Western Church, continue to work on providing charity to those affected by the plague and the famine of 1350. The resumption of trade on the southern border ameliorates the food shortages of the previous year and aids in the nation's recovery. Some physicians along with mercenaries continue to be sent to the Papal States to aid recovery there. Aside from plague relief, the government works on re-establishing food stockpiles which were depleted in the previous year's famine.
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Harba Lorifa": The Plague is finally slowing down slightly although not in big numbers,  it looking like almost half of Lotharingia's population will die of the plague. With numbers in the empire depending, as the further south you go the bigger the proportion of death increases. This is due to the fact southern more lands are closer to the Mediterranean, where the ships who carried the plague originally came from. This being due to the trade they carried with far away lands, where the  entered their ships. The exact origin of the black plague being unknown, nor is the reason for the disease known. One of the clearest effects in the farming Lotharingia is clear, there are now less hands to work the farms. This decrease in food production increases the value, thus the cost of food. This in combination with higher taxes, makes the farmes unrestful. Noble's having to do this due to not having as many peasants to taxate, as the nobility don't want to at once live less luxurious lives. So they together with the Merchant class look for solutions to keep their monetary flow acceptable, So they look to the origin of the plague. Driven by the merchants they look into expanding into trade, looking into buying foreign items and selling them at a profit. John of Loraine's behavior begins to get more worryfull by the day, as he shows clear joy in the killing and hurting of small animals. Regent Caroline hearing him speak against himself and what he claims to be angles voices, voice that come from the animals he hunts. Little John Claiming they are bullying him, that they are telling him, he's to weird and short to be a good Ruler. So Caroline decides that with this, she needs to call in a priest of the Papal states to check on his mental state(Papal response). While in the north of the Archduchy Saint Columbanus followers begin to slowly grow in numbers, as their different view on the plague. This view seeing the survivors, thus the followers as people who have not sinned. This feeling as great relief and aid in their moral, their numbers growing mostly in Frisia. This being a result of the less enforced laws in the lands, as only recently the authority has been centralised.
  • Papal diplomacy: Pope Clement V sends a physician and an exorcist priest to check the mental state of John of Loraine.
• Papal States: Pope Clement V continues to make processions in honor of Christ's Divine Mercy and to beg the end of the Plague. Even with the Plague slowing down, the religious orders and physicians continue to offer help for the sick. Clement thanks  the Swiss Confederacy for their help during this time of need. The pope sends his congratulations and blessings to the Duke of Lithuania for his baptism and the birth of his child. After returning to her home in Ostia, Elena Cimorelli says to her mother and brother that she wants to be a nun of Divine Mercy, but they are against it. They plan to marry her with a wealth man. Elena don’t want to marry and pray for God’s help. The Holy Father creates as cardinals Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz (Hispania) and Petrus Torkilsson (Sweden-Norway). After hearing about the Ottoman turks crossing the Dardanelles and landing in Europe, the pope sees the necessity of the Christian nations to be prepared in case of the Muslims are able of occupy permanently an European territory in this region. Clement calls for the creation of a Holy League. This military league will be responsible to fight against any heretical and heathen that threatens Christendom. He asks all Catholic nations to send ambassadors to Rome to talk about the organization of the League.
  • The federation of Padinia sends an ambassador from each of its member states led by Giovanni Visconti the warrior cardinal.
  • Swiss diplomacy: Ulrich VI von Lenzburg, head of the Restored House of Lenzburg and his uncle Ulrich V von Lenzburg, Bishop of Chur and Cardinal, travel to Rome for the discussion about the Holy League.
  • Ermland Diplomacy: We send our Top Diplomat to Rome for discussions about the Holy League
  • Latin Roman Diplomacy: Thomas Pichon, chancellor to Emperor William, arrives in Rome and makes an impassioned plea to the Pope, as well as the curia gathered in the city, about the need for a unified Catholic effort to prevent the spread of the heathen Muslim forces in Europe.
• Jarldom of Vinland:With another victory against the beothuk,one new seat is alloacated to the parliament totaling 11.Preparations for another battle aís made with the population growing to 4,698 this year.The schoolars mission is finnaly expected to return home in 1352 with valuable information about technology.The fishing industry sees a repaid growth with unemployment at an all time low of 0.5%.
• Iréchecua Tzintzuntzáni: Cazonci Nalhen’s first wife continues to raise Eztli, although she gives birth to Nalhen’s second child, Xitlalnolli. Literature and culture continues to develop at a priority degree, sparking the formation of market places and a prospering and economically powerful trade route being set up along the roads of the city-states in the Toltec Alliance. The Tarascan-Xalisco War expands after many of the Mixtec natives and the remaining Zapotec army unite to collectively declare an independent state after recapturing the city of Mitla, although their overrarching goal is to completely diminish the existence of both the Tarascan Empire and the Xalisco confederation, re-establishing the full Toltec Empire in it's vastness, not the "silly alliance". They are able to reclaim much of their territory prior to Feud'hua's campaign, based on the lack of defenses in the region as well as the occupying army having lost motivation to remain since the Tarascan-Xalisco War is one of national emergency. The State of Mixteca elects their Tlatoani, the Zapotec warrior-general Tupac, who prepares an army of 1000 peoples to fight against Nalhen's southern territory. His more direct and expansionist policy of war, in addition to his prideful heritage stemming from the ancient Zapotec civilization, makes him a culturally significant hero, especially after the Poem of Zaachila are written and promptly expanding his role to a higher status. He is depicted in later centuries as a symbol of indigenous people's rights and pride. Due to the light defenses in place, as well as the existence of manned outposts numbering nearly 2000 soldiers, they fail numerous attacks on the southern border, although are able to pillage and occupy various villages on the outskirts of the Tarascan border. Feud’hua’s campaign against the Xalisco Confederation continues as he faces his first major victory at the Battle of the Western Sea (OTL Puerto Vallarta), although the city remains in a stalemate as both forces consistantly make the retreat on both sides to re-coordinate their attacks. By the end of the year, however, the Western Sea territory falls under Tarascan occupation, striking a major blow to the Xalisco Confederation, although seemingly not enough to cause serious discord with the Cazonci, Manauia.  
• Tian China: Efforts to combat the Plauge continue throughout the year, as we continue all of the previous policies mentioned in previous years. Large amounts of Han Chinese also continue too immigrate to Taiwan, fleeing the economic disruption caused by the plague and famine in the mainland and seeking new opportunities from the open land in the area. After all the years of immigration we have been encouraging for so long, the massive amount of natives killed by the plague, and the massive influx of new immigrants that have headed into the region in the last few years, the Han Chinese population now slightly outnumbers the native population in our two vassals, causing an increasing amount of panic and worry among the native population, who are now beginning to fear being overwhelmed. We also decide to re open trade with Japan through Taiwan only, as it is one of the only confirmed plague free areas. We request the establishment of a trade agreement in order too arrange the purchase of any surpluss food supplies they may have in an effort to lessen the effects of our current famine. We also invite them to trade with our vassal kingdoms, in order to further the development of the regions (Japan response needed). The Emperor also continues to educate Prince Shang, well the crown prince continues his military service in Manchuria.
  • Japanese Dip: The Japanese wholeheartedly agree to this offer
• Empire of Ethiopia: In Beri, Ethiopia's most prosperous port city, a small portion of the populace living by the docks suddenly becomes ill. While at first this raises no alarms, the amount of ill soon spreads, and healers sent to investigate confirm that this is the Plague they have heard about spreading in Egypt and India. The governor of Beri sends word of this to the Emperor, who immediately orders that Beri be locked down. The gates of the city are closed, while the docks are also closed to all incoming and outgoing vessels. With the city locked down, the Order of St. Anthony begins organizing several groups of priests to enter the city and begin administering prayers and aid. Within the city itself, the sector of the city near the docks is quarantined. Constant fires are burned, hoping that the fire will purify the air, while the Pope in Alexandria holds a mass for the Ethiopian Court to pray for the safety of those within the locked down city.
• Nyazwe: The expansion of Nyazwe into the west continues under the leadership of Akashinga, who moves to ensure the San people are neutralized as a threat to his nation in the future. Scouts from the Vakadanwa and surveyors from the Ministry of Land cooperate to locate major sources of water in the arid lands of the west, and report their finding to their superiors, who then instruct the warriors of the state where to establish camps of occupation. With knowledge of the water sources in hand, Nyazwe is able to set up numerous enclosures and locations of power, denying a supply of food and water to the San people, who are forced to flee from the land to areas where resources are more accessible to their people. Mounted Nyazwe warriors are able to run down San warriors attempting hit-and-run attacks on Nyazwe forces, and in some cases, completely ignore the San warriors and trace them back to their villages, where the Nyazwe warriors put all of the inhabitants to the sword, carrying off only the women and girls capable of being put to use in the bomas sprouting up in the new territories. The ensure the proper management of the lands taken from the San, several military garrisons are established in the far west where Nyazwe has established itself. The settlements of Katima Mulilo (along the Zambezi River), Maun, Gantsi, and Nzou Inogara (OTL Gobabis), are founded as physical markers of Nyazwe dominance in the region. Thousands of citizens from the state are relocated to the various sites in the arid lands of the west, though they are able to make use of the seasonal rains of the land to cultivate sorghum crops in the area. The advantageous location fo Katima Mulilo along the Zambezi River allows it to develop rapidly, with approximately two to three thousand migrants setting up homes in the area, with most of these individuals hailing from the neighboring city of Bambusi, which has become one of several gateways into the newly-established district of Kumadokero, which comprises virtually all of the former lands of the former Khoisan territories. The region, while arid, benefits from several protected centers of habitation, where rainfall or underground water supplies are able to provide for the basic needs of the new migrants from Nyazwe's core territories. Of particular note are the seasonal overflows of the lands surrounding Maun in the Makgadikgadi Pan, which provides plenty of rainfall throughout the year to sustain a substantial growing season for the grains brought in from the east, as well as enough grazing area to feed several thousand head of cattle. At the extreme end of Nyazwe's expansion into the region, Nzou Inogara is set up as the "point of the spear" for all military operations planned further west. Several guruva of cavalry are based out of the settlement, and operate in the surrounding lands to deal with any potential San threats to Nyazwe's conquest of the region. In the south, migrants from the districts north of the Orange River have begun moving south of the riverbank, establishing farms in the area in the rest of the tablelands claimed for them by the warriors of the country. Ibwe Rekona (OTL Vioolsdrif) is established as a strategic center of power, allowing the Shona to control movement north and south of the river, and preventing the San or Nguni from escaping their forces. Development of the districts in the country continues with the oversight of the central government in Lusvingo, whose move to export the bureaucratic system from the various northern and some southern districts throughout the state, have helped to establish a springboard from which the migrants have been able to reasonably count on protection and economic support from the core areas of Nyazwe.
• Latin Empire of Romania: For the first year since the Plague began to strike, death rates have begun to substantially slow down. Emperor William's eldest son, Charles, dies at the age of 14 this year, however, succumbing to the Black Death. The imperial family mourns the loss of the heir to the throne, and many in the nation also mourn the loss of a young man who was poised to become their next Emperor. That being said, the succession is secure as William has a total of two other sons and a young daughter. Culturally, the plague has marked a shift further away from the Orthodox faith in afflicted areas, particularly those where the majority Catholic population (as in Athens and Achaea) have ostracized some leading Orthodox members of towns. The conflict between the Ottomans and the Byzantines is watched from afar, although defense in Caria are redoubled as Byzantine Anatolia falls to the Turkish Muslim threat. The Emperor's chancellor, a man known as Thomas Pichon, is dispatched across Europe to curry support for the Latin Empire among royal families. Notably, Pichon begins by traveling to Venice, and then across to Padinia. After word reaches Pichon of the Pope's call for a Holy League, he travels to Rome as the head of the Latin Roman delegation. The Kingdom of Thessalonica continues to be further integrated into the economy of Latin Romania, as its ports begin to see an uptick in activity as the plague starts to subside.
• Japanese Empire: The Japanese starved of trade and looking for ways to resume notice that their neighbor across the sea has remained unaffected just as they are and some of the merchant groups still able to risk the expedition send a fleet of trade ships nearly 50 in number to stop at multiple major Korean ports. The Resumption of trade seems to be met with Fanfare as it seems from an outsider looking in, the Koreans have been just as clearly starved on trade as the Japanese have been. This brings a great exchange of sorts as previous trade relationships are resumed and great profit is made on both sides as the trade fleet departs back to the home islands, noticeably devoid of the plague which has ravaged much of the Chinese and Manchu areas. The allowance of further trade with China using Taiwanese vassal kingdoms effectively as a middleman sees yet another increase in trade income as trade albeit obviously in smaller amounts begins to flow once again.  Japanese explorers fully intent on discovering new lands consult a map which had been purchased before the plague hit, and shelved for later have manged to purchase this map from a local trade groups leader in Fukuoka. The explorers and their ships consisting of 3 of the class of Japans largest trade ship, a former military ship converted for trade and long voyages have had a wanton voyage of absolute insanity at they chart the South China sea with maps in Japanese cartography previously only showing the coastal regions. In this quest they have happened upon their own kinsmen. Traders turned pirates in the South China sea. While generally "all in a good days work" for the pirates the arrival of their kinsmen from Fukuoka prompts the Pirates to throw their support behind the voyage giving them safe passage and access to their isolated supply stores in unknown locations. This allows the small exploration fleet to expand its reach well out of what Japanese sailors currently know. The first discovery are the lands of Viet ostensibly known as another Chinese tributary. Further south a mixed Champa and Viet kingdom is added to the list of new discoveries. Further south they run into the various nations in Malacca making light contact with the Majapahit and Brunei as well as an unknown nation guarding the straits of malacca which notably prevents their passage. With the loss of one of their ships the exploratory fleet returns to Japan, battered, starving, but full of a wealth of knowledge and even some trade goods from exotic lands. These men are hailed as legends and visionaries and the sale of this knowledge promptly allows them to start their own small trade company which now looks to the south to handle new trade opportunities. The nations homefront begins to stabilize a bit this year as the increase in trade with Korea finally ends some of the issues of unemployment specifically of many of the merchant marine sailors. The full transition to a minted currency continues as the silver mines production is increased and more Gold Bullion fills the coffers of the Emperor who transfers much of this to the Mint in order to allow the continuation of this project. Katsumotos son Yoshishege reaching the age of 17 and having completed his extended studies into the propsects of Imperial administration and management is noted to have steered the City of Nagoya through the recent moderate civil crisis is awarded the position of one of the chief administrators of the Empire putting him in charge of not only overseeing the Imperial mint project to give Japan once again a serious contending currency, but also the further development of the reformed land survey in which ideas have been toyed with to help increase efficiency and more accurately account for and tax. As the Heir apparent he is welcomed warmly by many of the nobility except the most warlike. These warlike nobles seem bent on breaking Japans association with both the weakened Chinese and the Koreans seeing them nothing more as possible avenues for conquest. These men were emboldened by Japans recent conquest of Manchuria but remain in the clear minority in factions now vying for the Heir apparents attention. However his lack of a clear cut military education is noted and these nobles plan specifically to try and deviate the Emperor and take advantage of is naievete when he finally takes the throne in years to come. Katsumoto once again embarks on an imperial tour of his lands looking to spend the next year visiting major cities and giving patronage to various Kami at temples across Japan looking to now please his general subjects as well as the Shinto preists and temple dwellers. The Imperial government allows for small groups of opportunist settlers to stake their claim to the next few islands in the Kuril chain specifically the larger one which sees the development of some small Japanese frontier settlement on the main island. Hokkaido continues to see an influx of Japanese comming from the south as the previous years of lacking economic opportunity has given more of an impetus to settle some of the open lands further. Sakhalin remains a fringe territory seeing only a few settlers this year and no expansion of its borders.

1352

Pope Clement V dies of natural causes this year. A new conclave is held to elect the new Pope. You know the drill.

The Black Death begins to greatly slow down this year, although the entirety of Europe has been infected to one degree or another, as well as the entirety of North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Ethiopia, India and China. In total, the plague has killed 75 million people, or 20% of the total Earth's population. In the aftermath of the plague, many families left fatherless are provided by single mothers, who assume the personal wealth of their husband or sons and become prominent in their own right. To that end, the memory of Antonia Visconti becomes a symbol of their success.

In the Catholic Church, many towns are left without any trained priests or preachers, and are forced to install laymen as leading liturgy and mass. Being largely untrained and sometimes illiterate, the new laypriests begin creating a bad name for the universal church as a whole, disillusioning many who came to them for guidance in these troubling times.

During the siege of Pskov, Conrad catches an arrow in the chest and is forced to return to camp leaving his men to continue their efforts in the siege. Upon further inspection upon returning to camp the wound has become infected and the arrow itself has lodged itself in between the ribs making removal difficult if not impossible, news of this turn of events is kept quiet however under the orders of Stanislovas in order to preserve the integrity of the coalition forces.

After the Teutonic Order had been deposed from power by the Duchy of Ermland, a large number of knights launches a revolt from the Duchy of Estonia, objecting to what they perceive as selling their soul to the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. They are supported by the Archbishopric of Riga, who feels their secularization threatens the principles of the Northern Crusades, giving them a total of 9,000 rebel troops.

Ibn Battuta crosses the Sahara desert through the cities of Taghaza and Oualata, and arrives in the realm of the Mali Empire. He is invited into the court of Mansa Ayyob, recently succeeding Mansa Musa as Emperor of Mali. He becomes particularly shocked by the appearance of women, in spite of Mali embracing Sunni Islam, still expose more of their body than what is permitted in the Hadith.

John Maunderville departs from Germany and arrives in the Archduchy of Lothraingia, where he gives a full and complete account of all the great works and marvelous things he saw and experienced across Eurasia.

In order to secure control over the rapidly-dwindling Byzantine Empire, Emperor John V deposes and executes a dozen different former regents and advisers who were loyal to the rival Emperor John VI. However, he still suffers from ongoing defeats at the hands of the Ottoman Sultanate, who scores their first victory on European soil at the Battle of Demotika. Suleyman Pasha secures control over Cimpe Castle, the first Ottoman Territory in Europe.

Dragos Voda organizes the Principality of Moldavia, as a vassal of Hungary.

In light of recent wars by the Lithuanians, the Metropolitan Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a daughter of the Eastern Orthodox Church, migrates from its seat in Halych back to Kiev, where it was originally before the days of the Mongol yoke.

Ewostathius, an Ethiopian monk, preaches religion across the empire after his pilgrimages across Egypt and Armenia. He believes strongly that the Sabbath is to be observed on both Sunday and Saturday, with the former being "Great Sabbath" and the latter being "Lesser Sabbath". His disciples, the House of Ewostathius, also propagates this belief in Ethiopia.

• Duchy of Ermland: Winrich von Kniprode is crowned as Duke of Ermland. His first action is to order the deposition and arrest of Fromhold von Vifhusen for committing treason against the the nation and the Duke orders his exile in Avignon.He then orders the Army to deal with the Rebels in Estonia by sending the soldiers on the front with Novgorod which include Bohemians to put down the revolt. this army is 20,000, 10,000 from us and 10,000 from Bohemia. We will attack Reval head on with these troops(Algo Needed). We ask the Hansetic League to blockade Reval so no outside source can supply them. The Duchy conducts a Census of the nation to see how badly the Plague affected us.Our population is at 158,000 which means 50% of our population died. Duke Winrich von Kniprode travels to Lubeck to meet the Burgmeister of Lubeck to discuss if the Duchy if they can join the Confederation they set up last year(Lubeck Responds Needed). The Duke enacted another reform in which the term Landmeistrer will be replaced with Count.He also began the reforms of a feudal system by giving the Komturs the title of Lords. We send a Diplomat to Stockholm to talk to the leader of Sweden and establish better relations with our two nations(Swedish Responds Needed) The Duke enacts peasant reform by letting the some peasants get grants but only if they are seen as worthy of getting them. The Diplomat that has traveled to Rome also wants to talk with the College of Cardinals to see if the Duchy can have a Cardinal(Papal Responds Needed)
  • Stanislovas Dip:  An envoy bearing gifts and an to offer to extend the protection of Poland  and Lithuania to the newly established Duchy. 
• Iceland: Cardinal Ari starts to have visions in his sleep of The father of the Church and Christ himself but dismisses it because it has things different or not at all in any of the gospels, after a week he recalled that the inconsistencies made more sense so he starts to write a book on those moments called the “Ari Visions”. King Ólaf announces that Iceland is renamed to “The United Kingdom” and offers Thule to rejoin now they would be equals, get a count and a duke, a 5 person Gubernatorial council, 4 in Greenland’s advisory council and 7 in the National Parliament, the Thile people would also gain a temporary building priorities to educate them (Mod response needed). Extra 175 children are born bringing the population to 25.175. The Order of Nordic Piety is given to Cardinal Ari for his book. The King says when his son comes of the age of 14. A record of the Grenadian Crusade show that during a Sunday while General Róbert prayed for the guidance of his soldiers to heaven those he prayed for entered his tent and were completely healed.
  • Some Thule natives join under Iceland, while others abstain on the grounds of maintaining their nomadic way of life, since Greenland forced them to live in cities
• Mali Empire: Mansa Ayyob fully annexes Waalo this year, and begins the reconstruction of the city of Dakar and the Malian navy under close supervision of an occupation force. Trade is fully re-established across the Saharan caravan routes back to Ethiopia and Egypt, hoping to restore the circuit of the African silk road that Mansa Musa enjoyed. Reconstruction all across the empire helps to recreate and restore all the institutions that Musa had established, and in general Mansa Ayyob presents himself as the proper successor of his great father. The emperor would carefully calculate his public appearence, ensuring he wears similar clothes and similar dazzling oppulance as his father enjoyed. At the same time, however, Ayyob was not the same man as his father. Mansa Ayyob focused very heavily on arts and sciences, fascinated with the foreign education he grew up with, and wished to further patronize the arts and philosophy. He would frequently quote early Islamic philosophers himself, as well as Plato and Aristotle, as if they were his personal advisers. The secret Manding societies are also further supported across Bonanam, Waalo and Kanem, integrating those people groups into the Mandike society. In the south, a local feudal noble named Baraq Shammar sends a military expedition of 1,400 men to accompany Islamic preachers in a coastal region south of Waalo, known by the settlers as the land of Jabal Asada (Lion Mountain). Baraq found this land to be very pleasant and arable, ripe for the agriculture and cities enjoyed by the empire. So he returned to the land two months later, leading an army of 10,000 troops to subjugate the entire region, establishing a new kingdom vassalized to the Mali Empire. In Segu, Abu Yunus proceeded to conduct a public ministry of his own, preaching the theology he expounded in his earlier writings. He specifically called out the Caliphate of Baghdad as being corrupt and impious, having abandoned the words of God and Muhammad in favor of their own wealth and prestige. In fact, he believed that there has not been any real successor of Muhammad since the days of the Abbasid empire in the 9th century AD, as the House of Islam has only gone downhill from there. 
• Stanislovas Faction (Poland-Lithuania?): With the return of a mortally wounded Conrad Stanislovas I orders a strict vow of silence aomngst the immediate company in the camp while he figures out what to do. After a great deal of discussions with his now dying Brother-in-law, Stanislovas realizes that the war in Novgorod is going no where, however if he plays his cards right he will be able to assume the Polish Crown. A envoy is sent to the Novogrodian forces offering them a 15 year truce with The Coalition returning Novogrodian lands in exchange for Novogrodian neutrality in the years to come (mod response). Having seucred a 10 year truce Stanislovas I Olgierd puts into march his plans he sends an envoy to Bohemia to hi brother in law Ototkar telling him what has befalling Conrad and sends Conrad under the protection and privacy of his most loyal troops to Warsawa and requests in a secret envoy that Ottokar come to Warsawa next year as it is unlikely Conrad III will live out the winter. Stanislovas I makes mention of the growing tensions between the Polish and Bohemian forces and ultimately tells Ottokar that should a clean succession not be established both Bohemia and Poland will be at the mercy of their enemies and allies alike as they into internal strife. To remedy this Stanislovas says he will make claim to the Polish crown, and will secure the support of the poles by taking Galicia-Volyhnia (mod response) Stanislovas in an open address to his men states that the war with Novogrod has presented them with an opportunity to move south and take the long coveted and fertile lands of Galicia-Volhynia promising to give land grants to the men as reward for their loyal service (both Lithuanians and Poles) also making note that word has reached his ears of the fleeing of the Patriarch to Kiev using this as proof that the cause of the coalition is just and favored by god to reclaim thr lands in the name of the atholic church. He reorganize the 35,000 troops under his command so that the light cavalry of both countries are in a better position ot both raid and carry out skirmishing acts against enemy forces, while he adds his infantry to the Polish formations noting the superiority of their  arms and training. He brings with him the siege weapons as well in case a seige will be required. While Stanislovas makes his way to Warsawa to discuss matters with Ottokar and hopefully preserve the stability that has developed over the years, he leaves the army under the command of his eldest son Andrzej Olgierdowic who on the order of his father launches the invasion of Galicia-Volhynia with 25,000 men while 10,000 remain in in Poland should they be required in the coming months should a contender arise for the Polish throne. The light Lithuanian and Polish cavalry are let loose across the Trans-Carpathian region that has been devastated by the black death allowing them to loot at their leisure while The infantry and siege weapons set up camp so as to cut of Lviv from any possible aid from the Rus.
  • Novgorod asks for a truce of 10 years only
  • Ottokar agrees to come to Warsaw
• Sultanate of Hindustan: The expansion of the Alaipur Fort is completed and the Alaipur Fort stands as a massive fort acting as the gateway to the Deccan and projecting power over the surrounding region. The Alaipur fort along with the Dhar fort is instrumental in keeping control over Malwa and the northern Deccan. As the reforms continue in the capital, the Sufis establish Khanqahs in Sonargaon, Pandua, Lakhnauti, Dhar, Dholka and Patliputra. The garrison towns are settled by the families of 1000 soldiers each. This helps control the areas of Bihar and Bengal. The previous Sultan, Sultan Alauddin Khilji had carefully set up a centralized standing army and took major steps to prevent revolts. To reinforce the efforts of his father, following the formalisation and laying down of rules for the Department of Intelligence, the budget of the Department of Intelligence is increased as well as the number of spies, this department is directly under the control of the Sultan and is quite powerful, with spies penetrating many of the noble households and maintaining a presence in the major cities. The postal system is made the responsibility of the Bayt-ul-Mal. The present Sultan has maintained the military reforms of his father. The Sultan’s Guard is increased in strength from 1000 soldiers to 1 Tuman. The Sultan’s Guard is made responsible for garrisoning the forts and fortresses of the Sultan’s direct realm (Punjab, Hansi and Delhi). The Shiqdars of the Sultan’s direct realm (Punjab, Hansi, Delhi) are now relieved of their duty of garrisoning forts and are now tasked with maintaining law and order and their other functions.
• Duumvirate of Cilicia:  Many of people,establish territorial on northen syria to annex it and developing some stuff so they a bit occupied so the holy see of Cillicia continue,to diccus about establishing church and other thing the christians king,diccus with it to annex Cyprus for vassal so they're agree with this year,the cilicians annex the kingdom of cyprus and claim as vassal of it,with sending 10,00 crusadermens in the territorial and they let across to have a contact with the middle east he make his way to continue his own progress and so what for now in the city armenian, many monastery from Armenia built some house and bring weapons to conquer more to just favored by god so the knight's launch an campgain in they seperate the territorial so they annex Pamphylia and the tarsus mountain by sending 12,000 soldier the council insita to establish law and such rule on the main kingdom and also supported by Armenia aswell for having safety and such thing meanwhile with the people most they product boeuf,steak and many food to give to poor and  a group of village they builting a castle called 'Amouda' for teutonic for what know the christians king is called 'john' king of cyprus and cilicia he was also a titular title of the  prince of Antioch many of armenia for now migrate to this little Armenian kingdom ruled by John for good and safety as such help in need people heard there was a year ago before a dynasty called the rubenind who conquer of this heart of anatolia and establish a alliance with the Mongol and allied with the house of the  Lampron so what people already knew it about they continue to product most of food which is possible from Europe or eastern or the byzantines most of product are  possible origin from eastern europe,normal europe and the byzantine but falled so they migrate as well.
• Papal States: With the death of Pope Clement V, Cardinal-Secretary Niccolò Capoci destroy his Fisher's ring. The body of the deceased pontiff is buried in the Basilica of Saint Peter after a mass is celebrated for his soul. Gertrude, Clement's serval cat, is take by Cardinal Pierre de Beaufort to live with him at Avignon. Cardinal de Beaufort continues with his works of charity as a way to make up for his cousin's crimes. With the pope dead, the reunion about the Holy League will need to wait. Meanwhile, as the last wish of Clement, Cardinal Capoci writes to the Kingdom of Cyprus, Kingdom of Arles, Duchy of Savoy, Neopatria and Knights of Rodes asking for their participation in the Holy League. He says that now muslins are returning to Europe and the Christian kingdons must fight together [MOD response needed, please]. Elena Cimorelli resists the efforts of her mother and brother to marry her. She says that his husband is Christ, but the pressure that they made for her to get married is becoming unbearable and she pray every day to God help her. Later in the year while praying, Elena enters in a state of ecstasy. After returning to her senses, she start to shed tears of happiness. God have talked to her and have given to her a mission. Elena thanks God and go carry the mission that He give to her, shows His infinite love to all human beings.
• Tian China: With the spread of the plague finally starting to slow down within the territories it hasn’t infected in China, the Emperor orders an even further intensification of the efforts to drive out the disease and stop the plague, as he views this as a sign that the tides are finally beginning to turn in the favor of the Middle Kingdom, and any advantage needs to be seized as quickly as possible. The slaughter of “unclean” animals and burnings of the dead continue throughout the effected regions, as part of the efforts to stop the spread of the disease. The colonization of Taiwan also continues, as a large number of colonists continue too arrive in our vassal kingdoms too settle on the island every year, with small Han communities even beginning to establish themselves in some of the other kingdoms urban centers. With the agreement of the Japanese to our trade offer, we finally begin to deal with the Plauge, as the large amounts of food purchased allow us to finally begin distributing extra supplies into the famine afflicted regions, in order to deal with the malnutrition and starvation that have been plaguing them. However, they can only do so much, and we decide to also Make a similar offer too our other main ally and Tributary, the Kingdom of Goryeo (Korea), asking them if they have any surplus’s crops from their recent harvests and requesting to purchase as much as they have avaliable. This also marks the beginning of our wider attempts to reopen trade now that we have largely quarantined the plague within its home provinces (MOD RESPONSE NEEDED) We also make another request of our Japanese ally’s, asking if they have any crop strains better suited for the colder weather we have recently been experiencing that they would be willing to trade with us (Japanese Response needed!)The increasing use of the Taiwanese kingdoms as middlemen until the Plauge has fully passed also helps to establish greater trade routes in the region, and ultimately leads to a boost to the islands developing economy and further improvement of their infrastructure and burgeoning ports, with the island starting to develop into a major local center of trade as a result. The military service of the crown prince in Manchuria also continues, as he begins to develop a surprising amount of skill in military matters despite his previous disposition, and begins serving with some distinction in fighting with various bandits and tribal raiders in the area.
  • Korea donates as much as they can to the Tian dynasty
• Swiss Confederacy: With the further waning of the Black Death, the remaining closed borders in the north of the Swiss Confederacy are re-opened, though the joint military of the Confederacy remains on standby to close the borders in case of a second outbreak. This allows the cantons of the Confederacy to trade with surrounding nations again, initiating a recovery in the Swiss economy from the plague-imposed isolation. Domestically, the government works on boosting the wool, linen and lumber industries, which were largely neglected during the Black Death in favour of agriculture; the return of external trade removes pressure on the food supply and thus such an extreme focus on food production is no longer necessary. Bishop of Chur Ulrich V von Lenzburg, who had travelled to Rome for discussions about the creation of a Holy League, remains in Rome for the conclave along with his cousin Ulrich VI after the death of Pope Clement V. With the plague waning and the Anglo-French conflict having ground to a standstill as a result of the outbreak, the Central Council of the Confederacy begins to look at the French succession crisis. After discussions in the Central Council, Bishop of Sion Guichard Tavelli writes to French nobles, urging them again to support Victor Capet as King of France, due to his more direct primogeniture and his closer ties to the Holy Roman Empire and to create a greater sense of unity in France to help it rebuild from the devastation of the Black Death and the English invasion. (Mod response) With some towns having lost their clergy to the plague, the Central Council and Guichard Tavelli urge some friar and monk leaders from the Abbeys of Einsiedeln and Engelberg and the Priories of Schwyz and Uri to at least temporarily fill in as secular clergy. While the joint military is largely focused on remaining on standby in case the Black Death is not quite gone yet, some fortifying work is also done in the new Canton of Aargau. Ironically, one location the military uses as a garrison is Habsburg Castle in the town of the same name, the original but abandoned seat of the Habsburg Dynasty of Austria.
• Majapahit: Under the reign of the fourth Raja of the Majapahit Empire, Hayam Wuruk the realm of the Majapahit continues in it's gloriousness as the Mahapatih Gajah Mada uses his extensive knowledge of political maneuvering in order to strengthen the administration of the Empire in order to further strengthen the Royal court. First most importantly the administration of certain Mancanegara territories most importantly Bali and Lombok are brought into the cultural sphere of the Negara Agung and placed under administration with several members of the Rakryan Mantri ri Pakira-kiran being sent to administer the islands under the overlordship of the Rajah, while the administration is mostly allowed to continue the same although integration into the Negara Agung is continued under the stewardship of the Aryas of the kingdom who remain loyal supporters of the Raja Hayam Wuruk. Meanwhile a small expedition is sent out to the island of Sulawesi with a small outpost being established on the southern edge of the island as a trading partner to the inland tribes (OTL Makassar). Meanwhile in order to further establish their glory and establish a hegemony over the islands of Nusantara they launch an invasion of the island of Sumbawa in the lesser Sunda islands with a force of 23k men invading the small island hoping to establish our reign over it. Most importantly we offer the Kingdom of Sunda our neighbor a marriage between the Raja Sri Rajasanagara Jayawishnuwardhana and a princess of their dynasty Mod Response. Meanwhile the use of the popular Leather Puppet Theater grows throughout various areas of the empires including Sumatra and Melayu being used to portray traditional Hindu tales and spread them syncretically throughout the empire. Within the Melayu the Hindu and Chinese merchants begin to gain more and more power and influence due to their relations with the Chinese and the Indians who mainly serve to spread our goods to the rest of the world, their positions begin to grow much more stronger than the muslims due to this fact and they exert their influence drawing more converts to this religions than to the islam at the time. In particular within the the city of Pajang a new Hindu temples are constructed under the guidance of the current Bhre Pajang showing wealth and glory of the majapahit within their halls. Meanwhile trade continues to grow with the expansion of our navy to exert our dominance over the islands of Nusantara

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