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 Bridget 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 Icelanders. 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 exacerbated 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. Afterward, 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 peasant family in Germany are afflicted 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 percent 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 to. 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 pilgrims 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 pilgrims 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 comfort 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 farther 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). Nine 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 four 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 doesn't 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 ready to liberate the capital and occupied them so after a while the crusaders reconquest the whole territories and being liberate many people who were 'Christians' the Muslims are getting kicked off by the Cilicians, sent by 12,000 men the state also they liberate the capital at the whole victory scream! the emirate of Cilicia is in decline rise to the Christians Cilicia on southern Anatolia! After a while they celebrate among of food festival and celebrate the victory a Christian knight who liberates the capital is elected as the king and overall run the territorial by happiness of freedom.
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Harba Lorifa": After years of Rebellion, Frisian peasantry, merchants and nobility finally 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 actually 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 declaring it once more fully Roman land. So the Empire has been expanded, an Empire who's by the Black Death. This plague killing great numbers of the empire, this causing a great labour shortage. As the peasantry is dying in great numbers, already around ten to 20 percent peasant dying. While the nobles die 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 hygiene and often live more remote from the densely inhabited cities. Cities and town centres 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 believe in that The rodents are not a problem but are instead punishment for Human sin, being the Saint Columbanus Followers. Their movement, although 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 Rhethoric 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 body of his Father, this fact terrifying. As a leader without remorse could easily turn into a merciless 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 resurrecting the Praetorian guard. As the emperor wants to ensure his own safety, this guard Recruiting only from the peasantry. Even if controversial the emperor promises 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 citizens are will receive a small monetary compensation, and that these soldiers will only be used inside the empire. That outside the empire, and for campaigns together 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 frevently 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 to temporarily return to a form of sustenance 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 eventually 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 casualty 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 an assault on Novgorod positions and defenses in Pskov (Algo Needed). These troops will be equipped with Bohemian Handcannons to give us an 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 from 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 doesn't 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 possibilities 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 10,000 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 crown issues 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 in the 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 percent 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 the 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 percent 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 excellent at the across of cair most of citizen,continue to occupied their village and agriculture in the southern Anatolia to truly help their own nobles law, they open most of priest to establish 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 producing 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 agriculture and producing food 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 severely 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 toward 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 propagated 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 nonstop. The overall population of Western Poland declines by about 30 percent particularly around Krakow which losses 40 percent 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 steadfast 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 10,000 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-Marshals 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 Response 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 having 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 its 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 four seats in the Greenland Parliament and three 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 successfully.
  • 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 farther 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 farmers restless. Nobles having to do this due to not having as many peasants to tax, 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 worried 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 allocated to the parliament totaling 11. Preparations for another battle are made with the population growing to 4,698 this year. The scholars mission is finally 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 percent.
• 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 overarching goal is to completely diminish the existence of both the Tarascan Empire and the Xalisco confederation, re-establishing the full Toltec Empire in its 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 1,000 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 2,000 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 consistently 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 Plague continue throughout the year, as we continue all of the previous policies mentioned in previous years. Large amounts of Han Chinese also continue to 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 to arrange the purchase of any surplus 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 farther 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 three of the class of Japan's 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. Farther south a mixed Champa and Viet kingdom is added to the list of new discoveries. Farther 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 home front 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 prospects 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 percent 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 percent 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 Response 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 Response 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 five-person Gubernatorial council, four in Greenland’s advisory council and seven 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 ten-year truce Stanislovas I Olgierd puts into march his plans he sends an envoy to Bohemia to his 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 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 ten 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 1,000 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 1,000 soldiers to one tumen. 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 territory in northen Syria to annex it and developing some stuff so they a bit occupied so the holy see of Cilicia continue, to discuss about establishing church and other thing the christians king, discuss 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 10,000 crusaders into the territory 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 soldiers the council insists to establish law and such rule on the main kingdom and also supported by Armenia as well for having safety and such thing. Meanwhile, with more people they produce beef, steak and much food to give to poor and a group of village they building a castle called 'Amouda' 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 an 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.
  • All of these except Arles accept to join the league.
• 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 to arrive in our vassal kingdoms to 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 Plague, 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 to 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 Plague 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 its 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 23,000 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.
  • The Raja of Sunda does not trust the Majapahit, being a long time rival, and does not entrust his daughter to marry the their ruler.
• Jarldom of Vinland: Another attack is launched at the beothuk in order to push them farther away and unite the island,In other news the population finnaly reaches 5,000 in an event which is celebrated through the entire nation.During the second battle of green lake,the jarl is wounded during a mist when she got lost in the mist and got hit by an arrow in the eye. The jarl is taken back to camp but passes away from her injuries later on. As the jarl has no children, her Brother, Ragnar II is the new jarl. He continues the firce anti-Icelandic policies but nevertheless, proposes a meeting between him and his Icelandic counterpart. (ICELANDIC RESPONSE NEEDED). Meanwhile, the infrastructure sees a huge update with more roads being ccontructed.
• Icelandic Dip: King Ólaf agrees to meet with the Jarl but only by a table and bodyguards are present.
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Harba Lorifa": Reform to Lotharingia seems to be inevitable for the Archduchy, this is due effects of the plague. The Archduchy having issue's with the monetary funding of the administration, The Saint Rombouts kerk construction and upkeep of the Mechelen parliament halting to a minimum. This strain comes from the lowest classes of Society, as the increase in grain prices decreases their wealth. One of the Money saving tactics the peasantry tries is switching from grapes and berries to Sprouts. It now being comen to have sprouts grow near houses, these being so close to the walls as to be easy to picked and then cut just before consumption. Although farming goes down in many coastal communities, people claim small fisher boats of those who are not there anymore. So the more expensive meats such as fox and high quality beef and ribs, these meats being expensive due to the labour needed in getting them at their peak. This all creates a shortage of Taxation, as the peasants try to hide their possesions from their lords so they can feed themself. This is also due to a rise in petty crime like theft of chickens and other small items such as buttons and small bowls of food. Hendrick und Familien Compagnnie seeing a great opertunity in these events, they Petition the Archduke to aid in new Naval technology. The company wanting to find cheaper and more effective ways of actually trading and sailing, but not fully able to afford to experiment with new technology. In Duchy of Ermland Some of the unsatisfied Livonian Brethren of the Sword, reform into the Duchy of Estonia. This Reform being a Reaction to the Secularisation of the order and Duchy, as they want to keep their power and livelyhood unchanged. So they form the Duchy of Estonia, as a measure to Rebel against the Crown of Ermland. Ermland having Pledged their loyalty to Sacred empire and the Emperor John, As the members of the empire were willing to protect it. So emperor John now officialy recognises the Duchy of Ermland as a member of the Roman Empire, and so Emperor John sends a representative to Winrich von Kniprode(Teuton Response). In Lorraine Little john begins to act so strange it becomes undiscribeable, This causes fear for his realm. Thus Caroline and Archduke John ask the Papal representatives once more to tell what they know about the litle boy's mental health.(Papal Response). Saint Columbanus followers growth begins to slown down, as the economic slowdown begins to create large poverty within the folowers. This being seen as a sign by some that they have not been devote enough, while other begin to belive that this order has outlived its stay.
• Federation of Padinia: The production of Pasta is increased further as well as war preparations are made, in order to go back to our conquering ways and increase the size of Padinia the hard way.

1353

Habemus Papam! Cardinal Ulrich V von Lenzburg is elected the new pope, taking on the papal name of Pope Victor IV. As a German, this restores the previous political institution of Pope Gregory XI with influence coming from the Holy Roman Empire. However, the Cardinal-Electors imposes a set of capitulations for Ulrich to accept before ascending as the new Pope.

Emperor Johannes, also known as Archduke John II of Lothraingia and Count John the Blind of Luxembourg, dies this year. He is succeeded as Archduke of Lothraingia and Count of Luxembourg by his son Charles. An imperial diet is held to elect the new King of Germany, with most electors favoring Charles to succeed his father.

The single outbreak of the Black Death that began in 1344 ends this year. The Plague will still persist across Eurasia, however, with sporadic smaller outbreaks continuing for a long time.

Conrad III passes at th start for the new year just as Stanislovas and Ottokar meet. After the funeral it is agreed upon that Ototkar will assume formal control over Bohemia becoming its king while Stanislovas will should he voted King of Poland recognized as such by Ottokar and Bohemia formally ending the union between the two great kingdoms. In light of the death of Conrad III the Duke of Austria lays claim to the thrones of both Poland and Bohemia.

Ibn Battuta remains in the court of Mali most of this year, and in the end returns north and begins his journey across the Sahara Desert back home.

John Maunderville arrives back in France, where he publishes a full account of his travels and life all the way since 1322. He finally retires at this point and finishes his journey.

Giovanni Boccaccio publishes a collection of romantic novels known as the Decameron.

While giving a speech before the newly-formed confederation of the Hanseatic League, the Burgermeister of Lubeck slips on a knucklebones toy and shatters his tibia. This causes a public outcry by the Hanseatic league members on the dangers of children's toys.

• Voidevodeship of Wallalchia: Prince Nicholas and his nobles were asked to annex the region of the Carpathians's Romanian so would definity acceptable to have more vassal of it the noble send 20,00 mans to conquer it and other mountain by establlsh the border since that Black Death has touch in Europe a family Wallachians has been touched of it warning of village, to not go any outside of the plague. After a while Prince Nicholas continues his journey in Wallachia, in court of his royal palace one of noble's army asks Nicholas to annex Oryahovo since they sent 16,000 men - but anyway, Nicholas and his laws rule establishs some strategy stuff to developing safety and such other thing that he need help on the state to developing more stuff the villagers request for Nicholas to have Bukovina, Transylvania as well part of Banat, Cirsana and Marmmure for what now villager organize and develop fortifications, castles, churches, etc., and many one of them produce their food for surviving and protecting their herds for production food as well.
• Iceland: An extra 175 kids are born bringing the population to 25,350. Cardinal Ari finally finishes his Book and wishes for it to be stored in the Papal States. During a parliamentary meeting the Icelandic Delegations and the Thule Delegations decide that a leader of Parliament should be chosen every for years, the man decided to be the Leader of Parliament is Aalik Gaaba from the Thule tribe, the Leader of Parliament and the King decide to make a small town near the Thule border to make sure if some teens want to join the could. Meanwhile, a fort is constructed on the western beaches of Greenland. Cardinal Mac Diarmada goes to Mali and wishes to be able to travel through the Mansa´s realm to document his travels and bring stories to tell Iceland (Mali response needed)
• Nyazwe: The migration of Nyazwe citizens into the west continues, as the San are pushed farther and farther away from existing water sources and forced to flee to the coast where Nyazwe has yet to reach. Agriculture is developed around the settlement of Maun, with the settlers developing their sorghum farms in the surrounding floodplains of the town. A permanent garrison is established at the site, with a single misasa of infantry and their families setting up their homes within the enclosure walls, and helping to herd cattle and raise horses on the land. Collectively, the warriors, their families, and the migrants of the area, make up some 4,000 inhabitants in all, not counting the additional migrants flowing through the district to its fringes to settle the lands there. The town of Katima Mulilo is selected by the Hamadzese as the first settlement to receive a direct road linking it to the core territories of Nyazwe, with this road to come from the neighboring town of Bambusi in the east. At the moment, all heavy goods being sent to the settlement must be moved via the Zambezi River, which has performed this task admirably. In the far south, the Shona have established several new communities, which are blossoming rapidly thanks to the many years of preparation on their part for the eventual conquest of the central southern African plateau, all the way up to the Great Escarpment. The settlement of Kumucheto (OTL Calvinia) is established by Nyazwe migrants from the southern districts, who have settled themselves in the area to raise livestock alongside the streams of water within the deep valley surrounding the settlement. Farther north, the settlement of Yakakosha (OTL Prieska) is founded along the Orange River as a site to raise livestock and cultivate sorghum crops throughout the year. It also serves as one of the primary crossing points into the south to reach the other end of the lands claimed by Nyazwe. With the rapid development of the new lands along the Orange River, it is authorized by the Hamadzese that the town of Huro Yenyoka be established as the territorial capital of Maodzanyemba, the district comprising all territories south of the Orange River. In the nearly twenty years since its founding as a garrison site for the Vakadanwa in the south, Huro Yenyoka has grown to boast a population of some 6,000 inhabitants, who benefit from the rich soil along the river, and cultivate a wide range of crops which have been vital to the survival of smaller settlements throughout the south. Elsewhere, according to a report by the Ministry of Means, monetization of the economy of the southern districts has reached about 80 percent, with the majority of all transactions between the inhabitants there conducted with hard currency. This development brings the south to the level of the north in terms of economic development, though primarily on the side of transfers of wealth. Naval development within Nyazwe has continued, with the new sailors of the recently-established Zvikepe (Shona for "the ships"), training under the wing of long-serving Shona sailors from the merchant vessels of the Arabs, Indians, Persians, and Swahili in the decades past. Many of these older men have been selected by the Zvakane in Lusvingo to serve him as high-ranking officers on their vessels, and to train future generations of sailors how to live and fight aboard a ship. To that end, a school for sailors is established in the city of Muromo Wenyika to train new leaders how to function aboard and command such ships, with the majority of those being trained coming from the families of fishermen along the coast. These groups spends months at sea, sailing between Swahili cities in East Africa and northern Madagascar, and sometimes as far as India and Malaysia aboard merchant vessels as additional hands to get them accustomed to working the rigging of a ship.
• Mali Empire: Mansa Ayyob completes the restoration of the greatness of the Mali Empire this year, bringing back the income of foreign trade and wealth known in the days of Mansa Musa. Waalo is fully annexed this year, and the port of Dakar is also completely reconstructed. With the navy of Mali still being rebuilt, the Trans-African silk road is re-established with earlier trade agreements offered again to both Ethiopia and Hispania. The military campaigns of Baraq Al-Shams have secure control over the whole lands of Jabal Asada (Sierra Leone), and established several outposts for further Muslim missions and Mandike colonists. When Ibn Battuta arrived in Timbuktu, he was awestruck by the vast and immense architecture used across the spralling urban centers, preserving a variety of artistic styles from Morocco and Egypt. His work is some of the best sources we have on the scale and development of Timbuktu at the time, although it was a special case in being the largest city mostly unaffected by the recent civil war. He wrote extensively also on the individual ways of life of people of Timbuktu, which mirrors a lot of what was stated by Hendrickus Pisacus. He was invited to the court of Mansa Ayyob, and came to stay in the capital city of Niani for the rest of his visit. Ayyob was fascinated to hear everything Ibn Battuta had to say about all his travels, ranging from the nearby nations of Morocco and Egypt, all the way to the lands of India and China. It is said that Ayyob had Battuta dictate extensively about all the foreign technologies and socieites he encountered to a panel of literate scholars, who added these works to the library of Timbuktu, but none of these books seem to have survived. In return, Ayyob related to Battuta all the recent history of Mali and his father Mansa Musa, including the whole saga of his reign and legacy as has previously been stated in this textbook. Battuta's cultural shock at the practices of Malian women is most interesting, indicating that some of the practices preached by Abu Yunus was already de facto in effect across the empire. Eventually, he departed back for his homeland in Morocco, on a caravan delivering 600 slave women to be sold in Fez. The Manding secret societies continue to be promoted in the lands of Kanem, Jabal Asada, and Nigeria, where more military outposts are placed on the border with the Oyo. 
• Iréchecua Tzintzuntzáni: 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. Tlatoani Tupac of the Mixtec continues to persistantly attack and raid the Tarascan state's soutern borders, eventually breaking through the defenses this year and begin a major front along the coastal territories of the Empire. Cazonci Nalhen, learning of this break-through, grows speachless and shelters himself away from public view. Feeling as though the dream so many moons ago had begun to become true, he flees the city, going on a spiritual journey through the ritual burial sites of his forefathers. He weeps near the chambers of his former father and his before, yelling at the sun god Curicaveri for failing him in this time of great plight. Suddenly, the evil goddess Auicamine emerges from the chamber of his deceased brother, Hiripan, and questions his faith after listening to his insulting of her father. Cazonci Nalhen, in a pit of despair, asks Auicamine for help in this war, under any circumstances. Auicamine looks at him, and states that for the Empire to have her support in the war, Nalhen must kill one of his sons, as well as to commit to purging all religious sects that stand inferior to her, primarily Izel's Church of Huit'zi'lichial. She finally regards Nalhen with one more term, being that the Empire must remain in a near-constant state of war until it's eventual demise. Nalhen, submitting to her power, accepts the demands and, after Nalhen kisses her, falls unconscious. He would remain this way for two months, finally waking up to discover that the Xalisco had re-occupied the Western Sea in addition to the Mixtec beginning to near the city of Tenochtitlan. Nalhen curses Auicamine for lying, but stops after a shooting star appears in the night sky above him, taking it as a sign that her forces will arrive in due time.  
• Papal States: Ulrich V von Lenzburg accepts the capitulations proposed by the Cardinal-Electors, then he is crowned as Pope Victor IV in the Basilica of Saint Peter. His first act as pope is promote the Holy League. He writes to the Kingdom of Hungary asking for their participation in the League [MOD response needed, please].The pontiff also writes to Hispania and Venice asking for their participation [Hispania and Venice response needed, please]. The pope says to the ambassadors of the nations that answered Clement's call that they must act now before the turks become more powerful. The League must seize Çimpe Castle from the muslins and prevent any future attempt of expansion over the European lands. The pope write to the Teutonic Order, calling them back to Rome to help in the Holy League [MOD response needed, please]. With the Plague ending, the ports of Ostia and Civitavecchia are reopened. In preparation for future conflicts in the Mediterranean against the Osman, galleys start to be built in these ports. The military centers in the Papal States return to train new soldiers for the Papal Army after the loses for the Plague. With the death of Stefano Colonna of Plague in 1348, Victor choses as Captain General Galeotto I Malatesta. Cardinal Niccolò Capoci continues with the position of Cardinal-Secretary. Due to the shortage of priests after the Plague and the incompetence of these lay priests, the pope orders the creation of centers to train these lay priests and other men interested in the religious life. The centers will offer the classes necessary for the formation of good priests. Theologians formed in Saint Augustine's University and experienced monks and friars are sent to these centers to act as professors. The book of Cardinal Ari is received and placed in the Sistine Library to be used in studies of Theology. A comission start to investigate the miracles atributed to Róbert Arnasson, for now he is declared Servant of God. The physician sent to investigate John of Loraine declares that the boy suffer of a mental disorder and the exorcist priest didn't find any signal of demonic possession. Elena Cimorelli start to give food and clothes to the poor of Ostia, she also speaks about the Christ's Infinity Love for humanity. Elena also confort those that lost relatives for the Plague. Her mother and brother try to make her stop doing it and find a husband, but she ignore them. Due to her actions of charity and simple lifestyle even coming from a wealth family, Elena start to attract a group of woman that want to imitate her. Her visions and ecstasies continues to happen and she start to talk about them to her confessor, the priest Leonio Fabozzi.
  • Teutons and Hungary join the Holy League.
• Swiss Confederacy: As Ulrich V von Lenzburg is elected Pope Victor IV, he is replaced as Bishop of Chur by Peter Gelyto, originally from Bohemia. Some physicians and mercenaries are sent to the Confederacy's political allies the Duchy of Lower Bavaria to help them recover from the devastation of the Black Death; other physicians and religious orders continue the same task within the Confederacy. The Central Council offers 5,000 troops, including 3,000 regular soldiers and 2,000 mercenaries, to join the Holy League Crusade called for by Pope Victor IV. (Papal response) The Central Council also sends an envoy to the King of Poland, offering him the use of 2,000 mercenaries at a reduced rate in order to fight their mutual enemies the Habsburg Dynasty of Austria, who are now trying to claim the Polish and Bohemian thrones. (Poland response) The Canton of Sion sends an envoy to the neighbouring County of Savoy, proposing a trade agreement between the Confederacy and Savoy from which Savoy could gain wool, linens and lumber. (Mod response) Domestically, the government continues to work on recovery from the plague and also works on recruiting new soldiers and mercenaries after some of the existing army was killed by the plague. The joint military of the Swiss Confederacy is largely focused on preparing for possible deployments to Byzantium and/or Poland, but there is the fortifying work done in the Canton of Aargau is also continued.
  • Papal Diplomacy: Pope Victor IV thanks the Central Council for the troops and give to the Swiss people his blessings.
  • Savoy agrees to the trade deal.
• Duchy of Eiru: As anarchy continues across Eiru with the death of much of the Anglo- Norman population the current duke Tighearnach after the death of his father Aodh from the plague is forced to either re-unite Eiru with his limited forces, ask the English for support or try something more drastic. Secret: Tighearnach decides on a radically aggressive approach and sends secret envoys to France and Lortharinga and asks them to send some troops and Edward Mortimer officially mercenaries under the pretence of Eiru hiring mercenaries to help them re- unify the country but really for a war against England in which the Duchy will rebel against English rule and incite rebellions in Scotland and Wales. Assuming they send troops the uprising will occur next year. (Vinny and mod response) End Secret. Dublin castle is kept in good shape and otherwise there is little to be done as much of the Duchy is in anarchy.  
• Tian China: After almost a decade of ravaging China, the Great Plague that has been rampaging through China for almost a decade finally ends near the beginning of the year, and with its end efforts to combat the famine that has also been occurring are finnaly able to be made in much larger amounts, as resources and food pour into the regions suffering and the people are finally able to go back to preparing for the next harvest without the constant need to avoid human contact due to the plague. This also allows us to finally begin gathering large amounts of forces again without the constant problem of the plague. Thus, the emperor, feeling newly confident and feeling the need to reastablish confidence in his rule after these disasters, officially declares the annexation of our two Taiwanese vassal kingdoms, and their official integration into China as the Province of Taiwan, and also moves 20,000 men into the area under the command of General Hua Long, to crush any thoughts of rebellion, and to move against the remaining Taiwanese kingdoms and invade them if their is no rebellion to crush (ALGORITHMS NEEDED). We also begin preparing for a renewed campaign of centralization in response to the weakening of many noble families as a result of the plague, and the emperor begins to write another book on his philosophy and personal beliefs, which have been very influenced by the effects of the plague and the chaos of the last nine years. We also finnaly begin to once more open up to greater trade with our allies and tributaries such as Japan and Korea.
• Jarldom of Vinland: For the first time in history, the Vinlandic jarl arrives in Rejkjavik with his royal guard where they meet the Icelandic king to discuss mutual relatinships.Although the jarl storms out and leaves, the meeting was a diplomatical success for jarl. The village of new Bratthild begins being built and roads connecting it and New Nuuk are laid down.The poplulation reaches 5,050. A daugthe and a boy are born this year and as customary vinladic tradion for twins,they will rule togther when they ascend the throne as Jarl and jarl Consort.
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Harba Lorifa": The Archduke of Lotharingia John II Reginarid Dies, John the Blind First duke of all of Frisia. John the Blind being succeded by his son Karel Reginarid, Charles now being the Archduke of all of Lotharingia. Charles becoming the First Duke of Brabant not Named John since the Founding father John I of Brabant-Lothiers. Not only is Charles the succesor of the Archduke of Lothiers, His father was also the Holy Roman Emperor. So Charles promises more rights, stability and mostly Reform and Simplification of the empire, to end the job his Father have started. These reforms include putting all ellectors down in writing, Founding an Imperial navy with Proper funding to defend the empire. One issue with Charles Campaigning being the Monetary restraints he has due to the lower taxation related to the Plague. So he decides for himself, that he will turn some of his unused land into farms for Grain and sprouts and much more. Altough this is temporary this is not popular at his court, Charles just wanting a cheaper source of food he can use. This measure making sure he has enough food to feed himself and the court for lesser events, Charles having taken a liking to the peasant sprouts. The peasantry liking the fact that as it makes them feel like he's a Royal of the people. This increase in popularity helping with Support, and recruitment for the Profesional standing army. On the contra this does decrease peasants willing to join the army of the nobility, as the Archduke seems to be a fairer men then his nobles. Charles trying to slowly standardise the Lotharingian army into one united force, where Ranks are earned by Merit instead of birth. Charles wanting to give the Nobility easy and well paying jobs in fields like administration, while the grittgier and harsher jobs could possibly go to lower ranks such as merchants and rich farmland owners. One Noble Charles sends away is the lord of horne to Dublin with an army 2,000 troops including three cannons and some handcannons. This is done as per request of the Duchy of Ireland, as to support their ideals. Charles even moving the restants of the Army to the County of Aalst, so it is close to all possible treats.Karl von lothiers, begins to look into foreign diplomacy. Doing so he sees the current issues the County of Guelders has, such as an even lower proportion of men able to work and a Brain drain toward Lotharingia and Utrecht. Thus Charles and the Parliament of Mechelen propose that the county joins the Parliament and thus gets represenation and monitasation (mod Response)  In Lorainne Little john of Lorainne, has been officially confirmed by the church to be unfit to rule the Duchy. This being due to his acts of animal torture and speaking against non existant voices in his head. So as a temporary solution it has been decided, that Caroline of Brabant will rule over the Duchy until a suitable replacement has been found.
  • Mod response: Guelders respectfully declines.
• Poland-Lithuania: Stanislaw Olgierd is elected by the Polish Nobility as the new king of Poland to rule jointly with his wife Queen Elzbeta coming off the success of the conquest of Galicia, and in light of the Hapsburg claims to  both the Polish and Bohemian thrones. Now styled Stanislaw I, he begins reorganizing the newly conquered territories. Conitnuing the policies started by Conrad and Ottokar following the civil war he grants a portion of the land to his the troops who served on campaign with him as payment for services. His eldest son is created the Duke of Haylich and put in charge of the border region. The rest of the land he portions out to be sold off or leased to free peasants and minor nobles. He allows the settlement of Galicia by Lithuanians on the condition of conversion to Catholicism. To further improve his relations with his new subjects he agrees to reign in Poland at the advice of the Sejm, church and City guilds. Vilnius is granted Madeburg status to help improve trade and draw in people from Germany and the Jews from other parts of E#urope. He agrees to uphold the rights of Jews as dictated by Papal bull.  With the South of Poland devastated after years of the plague an effort to repopulate the region by allowing for grants to people from central Poland and Lithuania. He decides to establish his court in Warsawa given the importance of the city in the final years of Conrad's life. With the end of the union with Poland realizing that Poland will need a new source of minerals and wealth Stanislaw begins encouraging the expansion of mining activities in the newly acquired Galician territories and in Silesia while, an investment into the expansion of roads connecting the different reginos of his new realm. deciding to make good on his conversion to the Catholic church Stanislaw promies to visit Rome next year to see the pope. He also continues the policy of patronage to the Mercedines to continue their missionary work in Lithuania, and allows them to expand their operations into Galicia to provide spiritual and medical support to the communities of his realms. He also begins organizing leymen to support them in this endeavour and to act as his eyes and ears across his domains. He organizes several frontier settlement made up of his light cavalry to act as a countermeasure against any possible Rus incursion in light of the recent souring of relations and if necessary and porfitable to carry out raids into the lands of the Rus and Mongol hordes funds. To help in this matter he commissions the construction of foritfications along the frontier region. Construction of a castle residence in Warsawa begins. Efforts to restore the Transcarpathian trade routes begin. With the Black Death steadily dying out Stanislaw begins promoting officially amongst his courtiers  and subjects to follow the example set by the Papacy of maintaining cleanliness to prevent a such a devastating spread of disease and allocates funds to support the mercedines in their contruction and maintainence of hospitals. He also promotes the education of nobles both Polish and Lithuanian in reading and writing allowing the Mercedines to set some schools attached to their monastries and churches. Stanislaw offers his brother-in-law Ottokar a formal alliance and promises to come to the aid of Bohemia should the Austrian duke try to make good on his claim. Several enovys are sent to the German states, Western Europe, Italy and to the Latin Empire to establish ties the rest of the Catholic world. 
• Japanese Empire: The empire this year begins to finally return to normal as the resumption of trade begins with China. While currently through a middleman in Taiwan, the annexation of the Taiwanese kingdoms to China effectively turns it into much less of an issue as much of the previous duties paid to the Vassal kingdoms are reverted to the preferential status of the Chinese. This resumption of trade sees the coffers begin to fill up once again. Vast stocks of fur and other key goods are shipped off to be sold and the demand for Fur in both Japan and China skyrocket. This large sale of Furs meets a demand thats been on since trade stopped years ago. However, it becomes clear stocks were not nearly enough and the Emperor authorizes multiple expeditions into Sakhalin, further parts of claimed Manchuria, and into the unknown regions beyond looking to fill up the fur stock. The land survery process is continually developed to ensure that when finally enacted it will cover every inch of agricultural and productive land in Japan and to make sure each farm is producing the right amount. No More, No Less, the system is intended to be fair and some farms are expected to see an increase in their taxes, while others will see a falling. Some will so no change at all. The Imperial mint project continues as this year sees the first major wave of gold coins of Japanese make enter circulation augmenting the Chinese and Silver/copper currencies already in circulation. A new wave of enclosure farms springs up in Northern Japan as some enterprising freemen purchase the land and begin fencing it off for their own productive measures. The Imperial army for the first time in years sees its first expasion as the skeleton crew of men is expanded from its light 5,000 to nearly 15,000, with plans to expand it back to 20,000 the next year. The integration of cannons into the Army has been completed as a small artillery regiment is included within the standing force numbering about 50 cannons and their associated equipment and manpower. The adoption of the stocked hand cannons is also completed as the old weapons are phased out in favor of the new ones. This remains just another incremental upgrade. The navy is once again allowed to patrol the seas as trade routes have reopened. A better outfitted trade expedition is brought together with plans to sail south past China and toward the Indochinese Kingdoms and Brunei hoping to open up new longstanding trade routes with these powers. As the attempt to Syncronize with Buddhism continues a new movement develops known as the Kensei Order. It is started by renown Swordsman and Kensei (a highly prestigious title) Tenjin Nakamura standing as the Grandmaster of the order appealing clearly to the landless Ronin of Japan. It speaks of Honor, Service, Peace of Mind, and attaining spiritual communion with the Kami. The school of thought is an intermixing of Buddhist and Shinto ideals. The order this year under Tenjin accepts 20 new Ronin on top of the 30 already housed at the Temple which stands the countryside between Okayama and Hiroshima. Some of the Ronin of this school of thought are sent immediately to wander the countryside near the temple, keeping the peace and meditating. 
• Federation of Padinia: The Council of Padinia launches their first war campaign since its creation declaring war on Sienna and Arezzo assigning 13,000 to Sienna and 12,000 to Arezzo Sienna is led by Konrad Von Landau and Arezzo is led by Ambrogia Spinola the new heir to the Spinola family. Sienna and Arezzo upon defeat will become vassals of the federation for 10 years then they will if they have proved themselves trustworthy become members of the Federation as voted by the council. (Algos needed by tomorrow night). 

1354

Archduke Charles I of Lothraingia is elected as King Charles VII of Germany. He now has the option to petition the pope to be crowned Emperor.

The securing of the Personal Union between Poland and Lithuania leads to the Sejm being convened in the Capital. Having previously elected the King it seems only natural to make sure this king has the best interests of Poland in mind. The King is asked to attend the Sejm and debate policy as well as the consolidation of some of the new territories in Galicia.

Nyazwe suffers greatly from decentralization as many tribes and city-states on the periphery of their recent expansions push for greater autonomy, causing large-scale revolts in the core of the nation. The Nguni tibes south of the Limpopo River have fully adopted the metalurgy and iron weapons of the Nyazwe over the last generation, and now launch major attacks against key settlements en route to the Orange River, effectively cutting off support to Nyazwe's more recent territories further south. At home, a series of regional ministers have accumulated enough wealth and property to assert their own regional power as autonomous governors. Collectively known as the "Mutape Clans", these ministers refuse to raise military in the name of the Nyazwe ruler until their local rights are recognized.

The Union of Valencia reoragnizes their revolt and sieges the city of Valencia, with the strength of 10,000 troops. As they had caused such havoc in the region of southern Catelonia over the last few years, the Sultanate of Morocco has asserted their independence and formally dissolved their status as a puppet of the House of Barcelona.

Ibn Battuta ends his journey by arriving back in Fez in Morocco, finally ending a long career of traveling all over the globe. John Maunderville similarly returns briefly to England this year to end his life of traveling, before returning to France to his proper estates in Orleans.

King Philip VII of France dies and is succeeded by King John I, his son. He continues the war against England with the ongoing alliance of the direct Capetian supporters.

The Gallipoli earthquake occurs causing multiple breaches in the longstanding fortress in the area leaving it open to attack until repaired. The Ottomans sieze the opportunity and begin invading into eastern Thrace.

The King of Hungary demands that Wallachia submits tribute to the Arpad realm as a proper vassal.

The Kingdom of Cuzco expands clear to its south attempting to further subjugate the Ayamara peoples but also feel out the strength of the area.

The Kingdom of Lang Xang is established by uniting control over both Shan and Laos tribes, led by its first king Fa Ngum.

• Republic of Venice: After the Plague has slowed down and has almost disappeared, the agricultural sector being largely intact (unlike that of Tuscany or the Mezzogiorno for example) a quick recovery is almost certain. To repopulate the now often undermanned estates in the Emilia-Romagna, and to develop the industrial capacities of the Republic, many German Jews and Artisans are invited to settle in the Venetian Republic. One of the most appealing arguments toward them is the promise to worship freely. (MOD RESPONSE ON HOW MANY COME) The only thing the guilds prevent is that Jews are allowed to become owners of banking houses or landlords, which can be explained by the fear that the domestic merchants and landlords will be pushed away from their economic power. Another group that is invited are doctors, both to teach and learn in the Venetian universities, so that future plagues can be prevented. However, the Black Death claims one last great death despite the good physicians, former Doge Francesco “Cangrande” della Scalgia dies in March. He is succeeded by Andrea Dandolo, a man who is similar to him a great supporter of the arts and sciences, and is member of the famous Dandolo family which has already had many of its members serving as Doges. On the other side of the Mediterranean, the Venetian possessions live in constant fear of Ottoman expansion. A large fortification program takes place to secure the islands against this potential enemy. Large fortifications in Crete and the Cyclades are starting to be constructed, while the already heavily fortified Rhodes sees many modernisations. A potential alliance is requested from Hungary, Serbia, Naples and the Papacy to crush the Ottoman threat in northern Greece (MOD/POPE RESPONSE NEEDED). The army in Durazzo is prepared to march east, and the Venetians send diplomats out to the Greek States (the Latin Empire in particular, as they have a formal alliance) and Bulgaria (LATIN EMPIRE RESPONSE NEEDED). The standing army of 30,000 men can be maintained barely. However, many of the soldiers are former seamen and pirates from the Cyclades and Corsica. these men know a fair amount of combat, but are untrained in organisation. Therefore, a military academy is set up in Verona, to properly organise an army, the logistics and develop those methods further, as for example running the logistics and supply routes more efficiently. This military buildup is done due to recent Padanian expansion into the south of Italy. SECRET A line of heavy forts is built along the Padanian-Venetian border, many of them designed to hold out an entire year or more. The towns around these forts will have enforced city walls as well. SECRET END The textile industry recovers slowly. However, more raw materials are needed to sustain a textile production of Venetian quantities. A trading mission is sent to Ireland and Britain, as wool from these regions is known for its high quality. (IRELAND/BRITAIN RESPONSE)
  • Hispanic Response: the Empire agrees to offer their hand of support toward the allied Catholic struggle against the Ottomans, a rising and potentially dangerous foreign Islamic power which has now arrived in European soil.
  • Papal Diplomacy: Pope Victor IV invites Venice to be part of the Holy League against the rising Ottoman threat.
  • Latin Empire Diplomacy: We wholeheartedly welcome Venice and their skilled veteran army to join the efforts of the crusaders against the Ottoman threats.
• Voidevodeship of Wallachia: The Wallachian king refuses to have us as a vassal for the Hungarian we settement sending 23,000 men to push it off to against those ennemy to have on vassal and the Ottoman to they send a march on Moldova to liberate it since the Ottoman come at Greece we developed among fortifications, asking by the House of Bassarb which he found it other site of the Carpathian mount they are going to come over it to protect it so what for now they're starting to constructed the wall against the ennemy which they gonna come know as the Ottoman purposal that Nicholas is going to declare a war with the side of the Ottoman, for an army of 23,000 men to expansion into the south Bulgarian territory some of villagers around Wallachian call in pray to be safety and continue to developed the main strategy against the Ottoman empire as well, many of them desgined as a week ago and two months done due strategy the Wallachian march come at liberate Bulgaria in Thrace to crush the Ottoman against it particular is a strategy to save the balkan as well Nicholas demands the Jew they are ranking as a Protector of church and villager to save it needed a sustain to developing more most of region in Wallachia are being united to march to liberate Moldava and Bulgaria, also constructed the wall into the border led by Prince Nicholas of Wallachia and the House of the Bassarb.
• Papal States: Pope Victor IV is scared with the news of the expansion of the Ottomans in territories of Thrace. He calls all members of the Holy League to act now to expel these heathen from Eastern Europe. Thinking about the security of the pope and inspired by the creation of an imperial guard in the Holy Roman Empire, the pope decides to create a papal guard. To this, he asks the Central Council of the Swiss Confederacy for an agreement in which the Swiss will create a group of soldiers that will be specially trained to protect the Pope and the Curia [Swiss response needed, please]. Elena Cimorelli continues to refuse the suitors that her mother and brother find for her. Finally with the help of Father Fabozzi, she is able to convince her relatives to allow that Elena live as she wants. Rather than turn into a nun, Elena decides to live an active and prayerful life in a similar way to the beguines of Northern Europe. The number of followers grow and she continues to receive mystic visions. Elena preach about Christ's Infinity Love for Humanity and how he sacrificed Himself for the sinners, she also says that the people must imitate Christ's Love for the others. With the help of Father Fabozzi she is able to write about her visions. After the investigation made by the comission studying the miracles attributed to Matthias and Catharina von Schwanthaler and a revision about their life, the Holy Father considers that there is sufficient reason for their canonization. Then Victor declared both as Saints. He also declares Róbert Arnasson as Blessed, after the commission studying the miracle attributed to him comes to the conclusion that it was authentic. Victor also declares Elizabeth of Portugal, Wencelaus III of Bohemia-Poland, Pope Gregory XI, patriarch Frederico Goikoetxea and Ari Guðmundsson as Venerables due to they having lived a life that was heroic in virtue.
  • Swiss diplomacy: The Central Council accepts this agreement and 2,000 Swiss soldiers, including 1,000 regulars and 1,000 mercenaries, start being trained for this specific purpose.
• Iceland: The population reaches 25,525. The Cardinal of Greenland translates “Ari’s Visions” to Gaelic and offers it to be taught in Ireland (Irish Response Needed)
  • Irish dip: Yes
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Were Di": Archduke Charles has been elected as King Charles VII of Germany, Charles now asking to be Crowned King of Italy by the Pope (Pope response). Charles beliving that without papal recognition the emperorship is nothing but a mere title. One of the First acts the Emperor does is Recognising the Duchy of Ermland as part of the empire once more, this is done to reconfirm the recognision given by his Father. While Charles also revokes the rights of John of Lorainne to rule, the duchy of Lorainne. Charles putting the Archduke of Lorainne, on the throne temporarly until a better ruler can be found. Altough he knows this action might be unpopular the king of Germany, so the parliament of Mechelen suggests that Lorainne joins the parliament as a full member (Mod Response). Charles also continues with the proces of making some of the royal lands farms, for the royal and imperial court. Charles requesting that the other Lords, counts and dukes do the same and show solidarity with the peasantry. Charles even putting the Recruitment of the Praetorian guard into renewal, by making it so the Emperor will recruit soley from serfs. Paying their masters 25% of their salary for 5 years, after which they will do their duty for another 10 years. In these last 10 years Loyalty will only be in the emperor whoever it may be, the Emperor having to promise their well being in return for his own protection. The lord of horne Mortimer arives in Ireland who's lord wished for his 2,000 soldiers and the aid they could give to them. This seen by Mortimer as a Duty to all gaelic in the world and to the Catholic faith which he feels the english do not adhere to as much as they say they do. In Guelders the Count of Guelders Declines the request of joining the parliament of mechelen, Charles telling him that he wish that this does not damage the relations between the two peoples.Charles also begins with the Writing of a new document conserning the Navy of Both Lotharingia and the Empire, as a way to make sure Searaiders will never again have power over the Empire. This is done by looking into the possibility to have certain nations make ships which could be used colectively by the empire by an apointed grand admiral. Altough in peace the ships would be under control by the nations in which the ships are docked.
  • Papal diplomacy: Pope Victor IV crowns Charles as Emperor.
  • King John of France disputes the action of Emperor Charles, and insists that John of Lorraine be granted the title of Duke as soon as he reaches majority
• Nyazwe: In the capital of Lusvingo, Akashinga and his loyal ministers gather to make the legal case against their rebels to the assembly of the Hamadzese, doing so to leverage the body's representation of the will of the people to obtain popular support for their war against the rebels. They cite that the rebellions are illegal in every manner conceivable, pointing out that several of the governors illegally accumulated wealth for themselves beyond the modest government salaries afforded to them. A governor could never have gather the sort of money necessary to fund a rebellion unless they had done so illegally. The only way they could have gathered so much wealth for themselves would be if they stole food from the granaries of the people, and sold them off to foreign merchants to gain addition money for their rebellion. Likewise, their claim to not raise soldiers on behalf of the state would fall flat, as it is not within the perview of the civil governors to command troops belonging to the Vakadanwa, to which both the Marshal of the North and the Marshal of the South can atest. Finally, the Marshal of the South reports that the Nguni rebellion in the lands beyond the Limpopo River was usually timed with the rebellion of the governors in the north, and the sudden appearance of iron weapons in the hands of defeated tribals, as well as the vast wealth of the rebels, could only mean that the two forces were connected and plotting for some time to overthrow the central government. With this revelation at hand, the members of the Hamadzese still present for the emergency gathering agree that the rebellion across the nation is indeed illegal, and vote to suppress it with all manner of force available to the Zvakane. All rebellious governors are retroactively sentenced to death, and the armies of the Vakadanwa released to carry out the execution. Thankfully, the bulk of the military was located outside of the rebelling regions of the country, resting from their recent campaigns in the west. Within the military itself, due to its structure and command hierarchy beyond the power of the regional governors, the warriors of Nyazwe largely remain loyal to the central governor, and refuse to obey orders from the rebel leaders. Hailing from various districts of the country, no misasa hails entirely from any one district, insulating it against the local rebellions it was designed to put down. The War Council of Nyazwe is convened to determine the best course of action to deal with the rebels; the Marshal of the South explains that the majority of his combat units were garrisoned in the cities of Akashinga, Risingabereki, and Tsime, with a large garrison at Huro Yenyoka available for battle with the Nguni in the south. Furthermore, fifteen guruva of cavalry were campaigning in the land south of the Orange River prior to the rebellions, and had recently set up camp outside of Yakakosha for the year to recover. Combined with the two neighboring guruva in Heno Yenyoka and Tsime, this force of 4,165 cavalry can quickly move to put down the bulk of the Nguni rebels who lack horses or the training to ride them. Using a degree of common sense, the commanding ishe of the misasa throughout the south ordered their men to the walls of the loyal cities along the main road leading into the south, keeping the Nguni at bay until reinforcements can arrive. While the Nguni may have gotten their hands on iron thanks to the rebellious governors of the north, they lack the skill needed to use them, and the warriors of Nyazwe take advantage of this at every opportunity available. The supporting infantry units that accompanied the cavalry into the western campaign are assembled in Risingabereki, some twelve misasa or 6,324 troops in strength, while those misasa able to fend off the rebels in their areas make for Kunzwa, ten units strong or 5,270 troops in strength.The force from Risingabereki sweeps north to clear out the Nguni enclaves resisting the central government just south of the Limpopo River, rescuing units stranded along the riverside from attack. They help to clear Lose and Mokopane of rebels, before reaching the river crossing to Thulamela where the rest before moving south for a planned gathering of the southern half of the military at Tsime. The forces located in Kunzwa move west along the road to Mbabane, before swinging south to deal with the central nest of rebels in the Natal region. While the smaller of the two infantry forces, they intend to rescue those four misasa in the various cities in the southwest, as well as a guruva of cavalry which has been successful in probing the rebel forces in the area, and locating the hideout of the Nguni leaders. Up north, the response to the rebellion is much more different. Having suspected for some time that several of his ministers would revolt against his vision of the future and any of his son's more "progressive" alteration to the social fabric of Nyazwe, Akashinga's father Kutonga laid down the foundation for a strong infrastructure within the royal court that would fulfill the role of dealing with traitors to the state. The Maziso Ake which had been laying wait in the shadows of the various cities of the governors move to neutralize the rebels in the name of the Zvakane. Spies serving as cup-bearers, courtesans, bodyguards, midwives, and teachers to the children of the ministers, fan out to begin their grizzly work of punishing the defiant. These governors are poisoned, beaten to death, stabbed in their sleep, trampled to death by cattle at the hands of their handlers, or in the case of one particular governor, led to a river and tossed in with a millstone around his neck, and left to helplessly struggle against the closing darkness below. Leaderless, the rebel ministers serving many of the deceased governors scramble to take whatever action they can against the vengeful ruler, who now marches against them alongside the armies of the north, some 9,000-men strong. Unlike the settlements of the south, the warrior garrisons of the north had abandoned their posts within the city walls to shut the rebels in, and now wait for Akashinga to arrive to relieve from their sieges and lay waste to the rebels. Upon reaching the first rebel city, Akashinga's warriors quickly scale the walls and immediately set about their profession. Any man, woman, and child who does not renounce their allegiance to the rebels is quickly put to the sword as an example to the others, while no quarter is given to those who pushed their fellow countrymen into rebellion. New governors more content with the new system of things in the country, and totally convinced of the policies of the Zvakane are carefully selected and installed in place of the rebellious governors. Several cities are quickly brought back into "civil compliance", and spared further punishment at the hands of their superior authorities. On the civil side of the rebellion, the mutauri which are at this point present in virtually all districts of the country and in embedded at all levels of society, agitate the populace against the rebels, pointing to the missing food in the granaries stolen by the governors, their duplicity in selling weapons to the old Nguni enemies of Nyazwe to attack their fellow countrymen, the instability caused by the rebels across their peaceful homeland, and the audacity of the rebels to upset the new lives of the people. Letters from the various members of the Hamadzese, men who hail from the various communities of the rebels, are read before the public indicating their support for Akashinga, and their words encouragement to resist the traitors and remember their loyalties to the state which brought them more plentiful crops, clean water, security from famines, and fended off the Nguni rebels who once oppressed them. These men give hope by stating that soon the rebellions will be ended and peace returned to the land, but that the battle cannot be won without the help of the people. With the army consisting of warriors from throughout the country, many families once supportive of the rebels flip sides, fearing that their allegiance to the traitors could get their sons killed somewhere as they work to undo the damage of the rebellion. Through these methods, the majority of the inhabitants of Nyazwe are spurred to action against the enemies of the state, and help to disrupt local production of goods being used by the rebels in arms against the loyalist forces of Nyazwe.
• These were full on rebel states you need a direct algo. On top of this you cannot just creatively ignore the fact that no matter what, these nobles have pulled a significant amount of your military manpower outside of your control regardless of the systems you have purported to put into place to stop such a thing. No system is fool proof.
• Swiss Confederacy: As part of the agreement with Pope Victor IV, 2,000 troops, including 1,000 soldiers of the regular joint military and 1,000 mercenaries, start to be trained for the specific purpose of protecting the Pope and the Curia. Additionally, 5,000 troops (3,000 soldiers and 2,000 mercenaries) remain pledged to the Holy League to join the Crusade against the Ottomans as soon as it begins. To ensure that the Swiss Confederacy retains a sufficient amount of troops to guard its own borders while the external efforts of the Swiss Guard and the Holy League are underway (and the Black Death had already reduced the number of available soldiers), the domestic government funds numerous recruiters to recruit new soldiers for the joint military as well as new mercenaries. The joint military also does some work on improving the fortifications of the city of Schwyz, the seat of the Central Council and the de facto capital of the Swiss Confederacy. The Canton of Zürich sends an envoy to the town of Grüningen, asking them to join the Canton of Zürich as they have been benefiting from a defensive alliance with Zürich since 1346 and Zürich also provided them protection and aid during the devastation of the Black Death. (Mod response) Bishop of Sion Guichard Tavelli calls on other nearby states to contribute soldiers to the Holy League's Crusade against the Ottomans. Ulrich VI von Lenzburg has a daughter named Agnes (b. 1354), his third surviving child after Heinrich II (b. 1344) and Johanna (b. 1347). The new trade alliance with the County of Savoy boosts the wool, linen and lumber industries in the Confederacy which had stagnated during the Black Death period.
  • Gruningen agrees to njoin Zurich
• Kingdom of Eiru: Tighearnach travels to the Hill of Tara in accordance with his plan and following in footsteps of his ancestors declares himself High King of Eiru and declares war on the Kingdom of England. Tighearnach sends envoys to the King of Scotland and Gaelic lords of Wales encouraging them to also take back control from the European immigrants in the form of the Norman aristocracy in favour of a Gaelic Britain(Mod response). Tighearnach also proclaims his intention to rule as the High Kings of old with the individual Kings beneath him exercising suzerainty over their own land. While Tighearnach travels to the Hill of Tara, Edmund Mortimer son of the 1st Earl of Marches and significant Welsh lord takes 5 ships loaded with 250 Irish longbow men and 250 Lotharingian men at arms between them and sails from Dublin to Gwynedd landing his force between the villages of Trefor and Dinas Dinlle before the ships return to Dublin while Mortimer heads into the mountains of the region of Snowdonia to wage a guerrilla war against the English attempting to cut off by land the English castles on Welsh coast and attempting to make cause with northern Gaelic nobility to join him and attack English rule in Wales. Tighearnach leaves 500 Lotharingian soldiers to hold a fully stocked Dublin castle while he takes the remaining 1,250 Lotharingian soldiers and 750 soldiers of his own towards Athlone and calls on all the Kings of Ireland to help him resist the invasion by fortifying the major ports and to wage a guerrilla war against the English who invade their lands elsewhere. (Mod response). Tighearnach intends to employ a Fabian strategy by avoiding a pitched battle unless firmly on their own terms with terrain advantage and field fortifications in place. Instead of a pitched battle if the English attempt to siege a castle the Irish raid their supply lines and hit their foraging parties and if they pursue the army the Irish draw them to the centre of Ireland away from the coast and their opportunity for resupply while moving around within the centre of Ireland wearing down their supplies and if they retreat harassing their rear. 
  • Some of the march lords in Wales agree to help Ireland with 1,500 troops
  • The Irish kings help to defend Ireland
• Jarldom of Vinland: The jarl issues the equelity army royal decree which recives wide spread support fom the women,the decree makes it legal and acceptable for women to join the army,this is done both as a gesture to the heir apparants and in a effort to get new recruits to the cavalery.Horses are trained for harsher climate to improve their mobility in snow and ice.The first Beothuk-Vinlandic child is born this year to Commander Arne Vinlid and his beothuk wife.This event starts a debate in the parliament about beothuk equality but the vote is vetoed by the jarl.
• Latin Empire of Romania: Following the successful creation of the Holy League, and the notable Ottoman advances in Thrace, Emperor William reaches out to John V of the Byzantine Empire, proposing a complex marriage alliance between the Latin Empire and the Byzantines, to counter the Ottoman influence. In the proposal, which is negotiated by Thomas Pichon, John V's young daughter, Irene Palaiologina, shall be betrothed to Richard de la Roche, heir to the Latin Empire. Any issue they might have down the road is to be recognized as a part of the line of succession to the Byzantine throne - after the young Andronikos IV (until Andronikos has issue himself). In exchange, the two nations will enter into an alliance against the Ottoman Turks and will cease formal hostilies with a recognition of current borders (Mod Response). Assuming the acceptance, Emperor William announces a declaration of war against the Ottomans. He calls upon the Holy League and the Latin League to join in the war, and draws inspiration from Pope Victor IV's call for a holy war. As a crusader empire, on the realms of Christendom, we proceed to amass a large army of approximately 20,000 troops. These troops come from across the Empire, but are largely drawn from Athens and Achaea, the core constituents of the nation. Additional troops come from Epirus, but this area having only recently defended from the Serbian threat cannot contribute as many regulars as otherwise. Instead, this role falls upon the Greeks of Thessalonica - who appear interested in taking up arms in mass numbers to protect their ethnic brethren in the Byzantine Empire. When the time for a great battle arrives, alongside our allies, we have already constructed a number of defensive fortifications (such as spike-filled ditches to ensnare the charging Turkish cavalry). Our greatest veterans from the last war are brought to lead this current cohort of troops, and Emperor William himself is seen on the field of battle - recognizing the importance of defending this realm in terms of maintaining his own realm and of Christendom in general.
  • This comprihensive alliance is accepted by Emperor John V
• Federation of Padinia: With the defeat at both sieges the efforts are increased with an additional 5k base troops being allocated to both as well as 5k mercenaries being split between the two, bringing the total count of both sieges to 20k men. The siege is continued. (Algo needed). The ships are sent to blockade the Dardanelles and Hellespont in order to stop Ottoman reinforcements from arriving. Loans are offered to any Christian nation who needs assistance against the Ottomans. Secret: Four different of the most elite Assassins of the Florentine guild of Assassins are sent to eliminate the Ottoman Sultan whoever returns having proof of his death shall be granted the title of Master Assassin of Florence (Pastatown). (Mod Response needed on success).
• 'Poland-Lithuania: Stanislaw I agrees to the Sejm requests will rule in according to their advice. He also begins administrative and land reforms continuing the sales of land not directly needed by the crown for military,administrative, economic, or agricultural reasons. He issues the Edict of Warsawa reorganizing the lands of Poland, Lithuanian and Ruthenia into smaller voivods each with their own local sejm made up of the three estates. Each of the local sejm will be resposible for providing the taxes and levies required by the National Sejm and crown in Poland, and in the case of Lithuania those required by the crown, in exchange these local cantons will allowed to manage their own affairs with only routine Crown inspection carried out by agents of the crown. The Mercedines are granted the right to expand their operations in Lithuania and Galicia providing spiritual guidance and medical assitance to the communities there and are allowed to preaches to the Pagan communities however he forbides any violence real or implied towards any of his non-catholic subjects. He extends the rights of the Jewish communities living in his realm grnating them the right to purchase property in the cities and engage in various economic activities primarily banking and trade while providing crown protection in exchange for help in stimulating trade and helping manage the finances of the crown to allow for greater independence from the HRE. Stanislaw I continues to invest in the construction of roads and bridges to better connect his realms and allow for better logistics and trade. The young prince Wladyslaw begins being tutored to read and write as well being taught about god by the Mercedine priests. Military reforms continue as Stanislaw I putsa greater emphasis on cavalry expanding Poland's light Cavalry to mirror his own lithuanian cavalry to better deal with the horse acrhers of the horde and muslims and to counter Rus Light cavalry in skirmishes and to carry out counter skirmishes if needed. He however commits to retaining the infantry levies of free peasents. He also retains a 5,000 heavy infantry as his royal guard made up of both Lithuanians and Poles.  Horse husbandry in Lithuania becomes and increasingly important activity specially in the south and in the north of Galicia as the demand for horses grows. Stanislaw I towards the end of the year decides to make good on his word and goes on Pilgrimage to Rome but not before leaving Elizabeth pregnant in Warsawa. He orders his sons Andrzej and Dimitry to lead 10,000 light cavalry and 5,000 infantry to assist in the Holy League in the war against the Ottomans. 'The cavalry assaults the Ottoman horse archers due to their speed and ferosity to allow the League infantry and heavy cavalry to assault the enemy forces without having to worry about the mobile archers.  ​​​​​​ The 5,000 infantry will work in conjunction with HOly League forces in seiges and battle. 
• Japanese Empire: This year the mint finally enters into full scale production as Silver and Gold coins enter into circulation now as proper currency of the Empire. These gold and silver coins enter into every facet of society in terms of currency exchange finally having replaced the usual issue of Barter and rice economy. While it is expected to take years to fully permeate to domestic economy, the ability to trade with foreign nations increases as Trade with China and Korea skyrocket as the ability to trade much more directly in currency allows for much smoother change of hands for product. Trade with China continues to rise noticeably as some mainland ports finally begin to open again and trade flows through. The scale of devastation on many of these areas is noticeable and many merchants are horrified of the stories of what occured in China. These stories consequently pass back to the homeland which showcase how lucky Japan has been to not be completely leveled by this catastrophy. The home army is once again back at full strength as it reaches 20,000 once again. The expansion into Southern Sakhalin continues as a wave of settlers organize some plots of land heading further north and the small port on the southern tip has effectively become the most main point of extrance and exit for the island. The population of the island under Japanese control is estimated at about 5000 with about 1000 being Japanese and the rest being amenable locals who have opted to throw in their lot with the Japanese. After the failure of attacks on the Japanese settlement many now lying within Japanese claimed territory have moved further north away from the settlements. Hokkaido also sees its own population having grown to roughly 35,000 this year as many families fleeing to encroaching enclosure movement move to the large northern islands. Sapporo is noted to half nearly half the population here but lack of imperial investment and local development has turned parts of the city into clear slums which the city administrator begins looking on how to tackle. The final islands in the Kuril chain are claimed and small outposts are established by explorers who look to chart the islands and map our their resources and possible usefulness. The census is launched this year and there seems to be a marketed increase in population. As all the homeland provinces report it the population of Japan proper including Hokkaido is roughly 8.7 million and growing. The population of Manchuria is noted to be low at only 25,000 while Sakhalin stands at about 5000 total. The Land survey system is finally implemented in the Capital region as farms effectively have their taxes redone to reflect their true contribution to both the tax system as well as their manpower to the National levy. This shows a noted increase in efficiency for taxation as well as increasing the number of men available to the military by about 6000. bringing total manpower to nearly 71,000. The roadway network continues its construction with its Southern leg in Kyushu completed and the Shikoku elements being close to completed as well. With expected completion next year, the Imperial roadway network is expected to cover the whole of the home islands with the exception of Hokkaido in which plans to develop the roadways there will not take place until the population grows a bit more and the provinces becomes a bit more productive towards the empire at large. The Kensei order continues to grow in its temple in the countryside now having reached nearly 100 practicitioners as the Ronin take about 3 months to meditate, and conduct peacekeeping in the region which has shown marketed decrease in law breaking and baditry as the stories of wandering ronin serving with honor and as keepers of the peace begin to spread making the area a difficult one to target as a much more highly trained swordsman may likely make short work of many thieves and bandits in the area.
   
• Empire of Hispania: As the plague begins to subside, the death toll begins to be realised for how truly significant it was mainly in extended regions of the imperial circle such as Sardinia and Sicily. The various spanish villages outside of Cagliari and important areas of the island are left nearly untouched by the plague, although the same can't be said for the residents of the port areas where death tolls neared 50% while various other port areas on the island virtually left ghost towns. Cagliari continues to report fewer plague victims while the curfews established is lifted along with the quarantine. Within Iberia, the plague also has left its mark across Catalonia with Barcelona having half of its population, a tragedy unlike any other but the Spanish remain vigilant and blessed that the horror which had nearly consumed them has vanished for now. The Medical School of Toledo records and secures various copies of data recorded from the era of pestilence. With the Moroccan exit from the Spanish Sphere, preparation for war is made with the blockade of Morocco being set in motion while 30,000 men of the Imperial Army arrive in Spanish Morocco to organize with archers, cavalry, and siege weapons to lead an assault on Fes and Rabat in order to bring down the traitorous head of state. Francisco leads the orders made in North Africa as a result. In North Africa, Francisco along his journey to The outskirts of Fes arrives in Tangiers and falls in love with a Spanish Moroccan, the niece of the sultan of Morocco and a christian convert, Alhea.She alongside her new romantic ally strategize a plan to overthrow and seize the rule of Morocco led by the Hispanic Army and Moroccan Christian forces.In Iberia, Alfonso leads 16,000 of his men to assist the forces guarding Valencia using the cavalry to flank the Union forces while from the fortifications archers and infantry would establish a united effort beforehand in which they would use flaming arrows and other flammable substances and even grenades to send the men into disarray. This will allow for a more efficient flanking maneuver while also crushing the rebellion.Fearing the threat of further conspiracy against the crown, a purge would be conducted charging those associated directly with the Union of Valencia with death as a result of a charge of treason. The movement has already caused enough instability of lower Catalonia.
• Kingdom of Dai Viet: With the death of Emperor Hạo of the Trần Dynasty, Prince Chinh ascends to the throne of the Kingdom with dreams of an empire. He begins his reign by ordering the development of roads throughout the Kingdom all leading through Hanoi. His Kingdom consist of a population numbering at about 3,060,000 with a levy of 22,950 strong. Emperor Chinh also orders the planning of reinforcements and improvements to the levees already in place but does not yet implement it with the main focus of the laborers being dedicated to road expansion. He raises a fourth of his levy and orders them to patrol the Kingdom's road in an attempt to ensure safe trade through his Kingdom as well as to serve as message couriers for his decrees as he begins to conduct reforms to the Imperial Examination system mainly by removing the portion that requires specific quotes from classical text drawing the ire of officials across the Kingdom. In an attempt to curb the growing unrest from officials regarding his reforms to the examinations, Emperor Chinh orders the implementation of the mandatory oaths for all officials to the Emperor professing loyalty and purity and uses the already raised levies to ensure and witness the officials oaths to keep them bound by honor to him.

1355

Emperor John V demands that the Pope should respect the integrity of the Byzantine Empire, and insists that the Crusader military should not remain on Roman lands for any long period of time. Furthermore, he says that any reclaimed Turkish territory should be ceded back to the Empire.

Pope Victor IV dies of natural causes. A new pope has to be elected by the College of Cardinals .

With the assassination of Sultan Orhan of the Ottoman Empire, the Sultanate falls into a civil war with Suleyman seizing control of the coast near Gallipoli at the city of Cyzicus, and the rest assumed by his younger brother Murad, in alliance to his youngest brother Ibrahim. Suleyman takes command of the remaining military retreating from Thrace while Murad raises a far larger army at home, which he sends to Cyzicus to capture Suleyman.

Due to the collapse of infrastructures across Europe as a result of previous events of plagues and famines, the Holy Roman Empire effectively loses all authority over Italy, causing the various Italian nobility, republics, and soverign cities to all act as de-facto independent states. This does not affect the Emperor's official title as "King of Italy", unless the Emperor decides to change that.

In Zimbabwe, the ministers of the Mwena Mutape clans have risen in open revolt against the Nyazwe monarch, effectively not contributing their military to the ongoing conflict against the Nguni people. The Mutape had formed an alliance with the ministers in charge of the administration of Nyazwe military. As such, the national military of the empire is under the control of the Mutape, while the monarch commands the personal retainers and royal guards under his direct control. The Mutape continue to recognize the monarch of Nyazwe's legitimacy, but they just insist on their own autonomy as feudal nobility.

King Alfonso IV of Portugal is severely displeased with his son Peter indulging with his wife Inez, who he had adulterous relations with years earlier while his late wife Conteza was still alive. The King sends three knights who kidnaps Inez, and has her decapitated in front of her children. Enraged, Peter raises his own military in revolt against his father.

The Hispanic army invading Morocco suffers severe outbreak of Bubonic plague in Ceuta, and is forced to withdraw.

In Venice, the Doge Andrea Dandolo is accused by the Council of Ten of trying to coup the Venetian government under his direct control.

Scotland revolts against English domination of their land, supporting the rebellion in Ireland.

The wife of King Louis of Arles dies, so he looks for a new wife to continue the House of Anjou over Arles.

A major riot occurs in Oxford, England on Saint Scholastica's Day, caused by a quarrel between two students over the relative quality of wine served from two different taverns. (I wish I was making this up).

In the city of Florence discontent begins to grow among the laborers and artisan population, who lack representation in the city government compared to the established patricians of the city, and even more so in the nation as a whole. Violence breaks out when a group of artisans, suffering under a high tax burden and barred from the region's guilds, take up arms against the elite. Declaring a new republic, the artisans unite behind a leader named Niccolò Landi, however, his government becomes influenced by a shadow government nicknamed "The Seven Saints". The republic also allies itself with the nations of Sienna and Grosseto.

A nobleman named Cassono della Torre, a direct descendant of the last Torriani Lords of Milan, becomes a famed Condottieri of the newly founded Black Company. Although unknown in Milanese politics, Cassono forms a secret alliance with two leading nobles in the city, Opicino Spinola and Piero de' Bardi, secretly desiring to claim a place at the head of the Milanese government.

• Empire of Ethiopia: The Empire slowly recovers from the outbreaks of plague in Beri. However, largely in part to the quarantine of the infected in the city, the spread of the plague soon slows and altogether stops. The bodies of the infected are placed on a boat. The boat is then lit on fire and cast into the sea. With the plague over, the Emperor continues to improve the Chewa system and the new policy of settling the Chewa on newly conquered lands in lieu of payment. The forts built by the Chewa to consolidate their hold on the new territories serve as the basis of Imperial control in the region, and the Emperor sends Imperial governors to each fort to solidify Imperial control. Additionally, government bureaucrats are sent to each fort, specifically to conduct a census of the Chewa. Each Chewa family is expected to send all boys from age 10-20 to the fort each year after the harvest and the planting seasons are finished. The boys train at the fort in the arts of warfare, helping hone in their skills. WIth the Mali Empire opening itself up to trade again, the trade route that made Ethiopia prosperous in the past opens up once more. The trade offers from Mali are accepted and trade caravans begin traveling from Ethiopia to Mali once more. The Ethiopian monastic order the Order of St. Anthony continues to gain Ethiopian clergyman, and they establish more monasteries in newly conquered Muslim lands, helping to Christianize the area and preaching the word of Christ. The Ethiopian road network is maintained and improved upon, while the Ethiopian fleet continues to build itself up.
• Iréchecua Tzintzuntzáni: 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. Although Nalhen hadn't recieved the aid from Auicamine since the Empire has turned the tide of battles, having stalemated both frontlines prior to the Mixtec siege of Tenochtitlan, Cazonci Nalhen recieves a messenger stating that Feud'hua had been killed in battle, and that the tide of war was going against them once more. The main reason for Nalhen having not accepted Auicamine's help yet was due to his inability to kill his son, someone whom he loved the most in the world. However, after hearing about Feud'hua's death in Xalisco and the Mixtec having captured the remaining coast, Nalhen decided. Izel's Church of Huit'zi'lichial is burnt down, with Izel being martyred, and Nalhen kills Eztli, his first son, while he slept. Upon the death of Eztli, the Earth is said to have shook violently, cracking the surface ever-so slightly. The next day, it was discovered by Tarascan warriors that a thunderstorm had mysteriously erupted in the Xalisco and Mixtec lands, and that it had set a number of infrastructure on fire. Upon the Siege of Tenochtitlan, it is said that the goddess Auicamine herself had arose from the ground itself, eliminating all Mixtec forces, with the nail in the coffin being Tlatoani Tupac's death in battle. Upon the next offensive campaign in the Mixtec territority, it is believed that the Empire would never lose a battle in this second offensive attack, as they begin re-claiming and re-integrating occupied territory. Cazonci Manauia of the Xalisco confederation dies due to some mysterious illness this year, his successor being his six-year old son, which starts a civil war between the city-states that structure the confederation between them. With the Mixtec in retreat and Xalisco facing their own separate civil war, Cazonci Nalhen weeps over his lost son. 
• Nyazwe: Akashinga meets with the representatives of the Hamadzese to discuss the treasonous actions of War Minister Unathi waBandile, and his alliance with the self-declared lords of the newly-established "Mwena Mutape" clans. While the war minister cannot direct troops without the approval of Akashinga, and both marshals for the two regional branches of the military are his sons, Akashinga does not want to risk harming the civil and military structure of Nyazwe for political expediency, and instead convenes with the body of the Hamadzese to determine the best course of action. The rebel leaders are found to be wealthy members of several communities in the north near the Zambezi River, and had for some time been allowed to manage themselves in a region deemed to be "safe" by the government in Lusvingo. Years of operating without any oversight put the idea into their heads that they were lords in their own right, having the power to govern the land of their district outside the authority of their duly-appointed governor. While the two marshals will gladly ignore the ramblings of a rebel minister to support their father in crushing the rebel forces, Akashinga instead sees an opportunity for reform that will benefit for the country as a whole, and neutralize the threat of the rebel forces without bloodshed. With only a small entourage at his back, Akashinga rides out to gathering place of the rebel leaders to discuss terms of agreement with them that will be of benefit to both sides. Throughout much of the following week, Akashinga and the rebels iron out a deal that will acknowledge their ancestral rights to their homes and lands, with compensation for their role in helping to administer the land coming in the form of their being compensated financially as state officials, and the protections offered as such. In return, these men will acknowledge the traditional custom of Shona chieftains renouncing forever all power over warriors belonging to the state, and adhering to the established hierarchy of Nyazwe. None of them shall be punished as traitors, and their right to life acknowledged by the Zvakane, who shall himself take no part in harming them. To ensure their rights are protected, both Akashinga and the rebel chiefs agree to restructure the Hamadzese to allow for the men of their districts to have the right to send a member of their community to Lusvingo to voice their concerns to the Zvakane, and help influence policies effecting their region of the empire, so as to prevent any future rebellions of this sort from taking place. Akashinga thanks the rebels for hosting him and reaffirming their loyalties to the the ruler, and not taking up arms against their fellow countrymen. He requests that they put aside their issues for the time being, and join him in dealing with their old Nguni foes in the south, who have begun to attack the citizens of Nyazwe. He states that while they may have their issues with his leadership of the country, he begs that they remember their loyalties to the people, and put aside their grudges to help save their fellow citizens from the blade of the Nguni savages. There will be time to further resolve their issues with the state, but in the meantime, duty calls for those men to fight against the invaders. Many of these men having been in battle alongside Akashinga during their collective youths, riding alongside him as they punished the Nguni for their intransigence, are swayed to take up arms with him and fight the Nguni in the south. Upon their agreement to the reforms, Akashinga and his men gather the armies together for their invasion and reconquest of the south, with hopes of dealing with the rebel menace before the south falls to them.
  • The Mutape consider the conditions of the Nyazwe unacceptable, as they will retain thier own autonomous militaries outside of Imperial control. Furthermore, many ministers are not of Shona culture and cannot accept the traditional custom of Shona chieftains
• Kingdom of Dai Viet: Emperor Chinh starts the year by appointing trustworthy, loyal officials as his advisors for war, diplomacy, intelligence, economy, and internal security. He orders the creation of a small security force that in turn pays citizens for criminals with justifiable violations of the laws (witnesses, evidence, etc.). The raised levies (5500 approx.) are retasked to serve as security in the capitol of Hanoi and its surrounding regions. Emperor Chinh further reforms the examination system by removing the step by step test of classical text while they are still mandatory reading, only the intent and purpose of the text is required for testing with further attempts at reformation of the examination system being put on hold for now. Construction on the roads has been hampered with a portion of the laborers being shifted towards building forts, traps, obstructions, and concealed hideouts throughout the Kingdom. 1/3 of the military officers are ordered to plan and organize a defense for a potential invasion from the Kingdom's enemies from any direction. The plans for the levees are put on hold indefinitely in light of other priorities and the lack of laborers. Another 1/3 of the officers are secretly put to work planning out an offensive against the southern Kingdom of Champa with the advisors for war and intelligence overseeing the planning. The advisors for intelligence and diplomacy are tasked with making diplomatic contact with China (China response) and the Kingdom of Champa (Mod Response) and noting weaknesses/gather intelligence on both. The remaining officers are assigned to train and equip the portions of the levies still raised to bring them up to professional standards with an estimate 1-2 years for training and equipping. Blacksmiths across the Kingdom are commissioned to manufacture weapons and armor with the funds coming out of royal coffers and 1/3 of the iron from the mines being set aside for use by the blacksmiths and other craftsman in the states employ with the other 2/3 being rationed in its distribution which upsets farmers who are now forced to pay higher cost for tools. 1/5 of food production is ordered to be sent to storage depots across the Kingdom, ready to be used whenever the Emperor should demand it, upsetting the farmers even further. In an attempt to pacify the hostile populace, the Emperor becomes a patron to entertainment acts across the kingdom that depict him in a good light and orders the construction of the first gladiatorial arena outside of Hanoi for criminals and lawbreakers to fight in at the pleasure of the public. The Emperor also places an order of 50 ships to the shipbuilders guild estimated to be done within 6-7 years. To ensure the best for his soldiers, Emperor Chinh provides patronage to scholars/alchemist who are currently experimenting with gunpowder which holds immense promise in its future potential.
  • Champa cautiously accepts peace from Vietnam, but generally distrusts the Tran Dynasty and considers them a long-standing rival
• Papal States: With the death of Pope Victor IV, Cardinal-Secretary Niccolò Capoci destroys his Fisher's ring. The body of the deceased pope is buried in the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Peter. The victory of the Holy League over the Ottomans is celebrated across the Papal States. Masses are celebrated were the Te Deum is sung. Cardinal Capoci makes the preparations for the Conclave and the newly created Swiss Guard will make the security. The first war ship produced in the Papal States is make in the port of Ostia. This galley is inferior to those produced in Venice, but will be used to help the war in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cardinal Capoci writes to the Byzantine Emperor telling him that Pope VIctor is dead and that he, as cardinal, don't have authority over the Holy League. He says that after the Conclave the new pope will answer him and asks the participation of the Byzantines in the efforts of the League to defeat the Ottomans, this way helping end this conflict more quickly [MOD response needed, please]. Elena Cimorelli continues her works of charity with the poor of Ostia. She have formed a group of lay woman that is named "Workers of Charity". Elena's visions continues and she is being teached in how to write by Father Fabozzi, this way she'll be able to write her visions herself. Encouraged by Father Fabozzi, Elena will tell about her visons and ask for the approval of the new pope after the Conclave. While the cardinals enter in the Lateran Palace for the Conclave, the people pray for the future of the Christendom
  • Emperor John V concedes to support the crusaders fight the Ottomans as long as the new Bishop of Rome will respect his demands. Until then, the Byzantine military directly requests the Holy League commanders to relocate their military encampments to nearby Latin states instead of Thrace.
• .Voidevodeship of Wallachia: Nicholas,heard that we should not crusading in byzantin territorial instead we should crusading in the thrace mountain most of the council senda a army of 60,000 to push it off the ottomans against to vassalized Moldova's principility and protecting the other nation in the balkan penisula anyways for now the villager are developing a herd wall for their own animal, to developing foods and such trade (also steak which is requiable) for healthy to people,as for now in the council Prince nicholas founda the eastern church orthodox metropolis of the urgu-Wallachian as up in the battle ravaged in thrace the soldier of the voivode launch herds at the ottomans one of them are accrosing on their frotress and occupied a army wallachian launch canon fire and which is result a explosion on the frotress one of them launch herd on ottomans march The council senda 20,000 army wallachian to push it off the march of ottoman lead by the sultan lead by mehmed II and the army by prince nicholas for what know most of them launch fire canon on the ottomans and one continue to occupied to hostaging the islamic empire dynasty aswell at holy victory the ottomans were defeat by Prince nicholas alexander pray up for the futur of the christendom by the way the ottomans are gonna leave,the territory of thrace and the wallachian continue to fight it at the north Alexander celebrate a happy victory to them but suddenly most of ottomans survivor still ravaged in thrace and the battle still hostiling towards to those islamic empire,and many of people continue to developing this strategy to protect the byzantin empire from Constanipole. Wallachia would like to send some those troop join in greece to help the papal state (player reponse)
  • Papal diplomacy: Cardinal-Secretary Niccolò Capoci accepts the help offered by Wallachia.
• .Jarldom of Vinland: *The jarl issues a battle order and decided to attack the beorhukians once more,in a attempt to push the back even more.(algo needed)With another victory for Vinland,The population reaches 6,032 persons which is lawislhy celebrated throughout the country.Once more the parliaments attempts to vote for the Beothuk equality bill which gains 11 out of 13 votes being signed into law by the jarl.This law makes it possible for beothuks to stand for iffice and hold public offices.(mod response needed)
• Federation of Padinia: With the Victory in Sienna the 20,000 soldiers of Padinia return home and announce their support for the Condotori, Cassono Della Torre. Cassono lays claim to the City of Milan having premeditated this with Spinola and Medici families, however every other family quickly brings their power to bear on him. The forces that were laying siege to Arezzo break the siege and return home splitting sides. Numbers estimates are about 25,000 on each side. With the Personal guards of Spinola remaining to defend Genoa and the Personal guards of Medici working to eliminate the rogue element in Florence. Cassono quickly hires more troops from Southern Germany from what many fear is a money pool that has been built up for centuries. The Numbers reach 35,000 and the first battle begins. Being the tactical genius he is Cassono Della Torre sets a trap for the 25,000 forces with a backflanking force of 15,000 and his main force trapping them into a hammer and anvil situation in the forests outside of Milan. He baits them into this trap by using a Milanese Councilman Antonio De’ Medici to spread word of Della Torre’s forces being split up and encouraging them to engage. (Algo needed). Secret: Following the succesful assassination of the Ottoman Sultan, Giancarlo De’ Medici is named the Sceptre, and Master Assassin of Florence. End secret. In Florence the secret government of the Seven Saints begins to cause more drama in Florence with a large number of brawls breaking out and multiple random people dying of a large variety of causes.
• Iceland: The population reaches 25.775. The Cardinal of Greenland writes a fictional story and marks the beginning of Iceland fictional literature, the Archbishop of Reykjavík writes one and a shopkeeper in Akureyri writes 3 and the king like them so much he makes the man Governor of Hrísey. The new President of Parliament is Henrik Hermannsson a delegate from Akranes. A bride is requested from the ruling Scottish Dynasty to marry the heir to the Icelandic Kingdom (Mod Response Needed).
  • The Scottish king's daughter Agnes moves to Iceland
• Republic of Venice: In a spectacular coup the new Doge is kicked out of office by the Council with Senate backing and General Mastino della Scala is elected as the new Doge. This entrenches the Lords of Verona as one of the major families of the Republic once and for all. As a man of the military, the new Doge joins the Holy league and sends 8,000 men of his most skilled men and seasoned officer staff to Thrace. Parts of the army have much experience of fighting light cavalry the Turks and Mongolians use from their time in Crimea. However, the navy in Crete is prepared to annihilate the Ottoman fleet at the Aegean, and 200 large war ships are sent there to destroy any Ottoman navy in the area (NAVAL ALGO PLEASE). On these ships cannons and  trebuchets with flaming projectiles. The army sets of from Rhodes, and then is sent to the Cyclades from where 1000 are sent to free Smyrna to reinforce the army there and to set up the defensive structures that were used in Caffa and Kerch, namely the trenches filled with spikes with Friesian horses in front of them, to bait the horsemen into jumping into the trenches. The trenches have worked fairly well in Crimea, so this time they are modified with even deeper trenches and better hiding, for example by constructing them right behind smaller hills. With these constructions, the horseman could see the trenches just when it is too late and then would run into the friesian horses. Despite the enforcements in Smyrna, the navy is the most active part of the Venetian forces, aiding Milan in the blockade and going on active search-and-destroy missions. The textile industry of Venice continues to flourish, so do the shipping and glass industry. The fortification program along the Venetian-Milanese border continues, and with it a large economic boom in the North Italian countryside occurs. The states around Venice proper, nominally only vassals of the republic, undergo a political transformation initiated by the Senate. The new program would install a federation in a similar fashion that Padinia has, where every small vassal elects Signiori, who will then function as representatives to the Senate. This will assure the loyalty of the vassals, while the previously existing power structures will not be upset. Another part of the reforms is the expansion of voting rights to artisans who can now participate more directly in the guilds, forming loose political factions in the Senate.
• Archduchy of Lotharingia: "Were Di": Emperor Charles seeing the issue's with Italian states of the empire, So Charles invites all Italian states in the Empire to the Special Council of Verdun (Venice, Millan, Swiss, Mod response). Charles Proposing to now fully defend all lands in the kingdom of Italy, and to provide Financial rights. These rights being the right of own taxation and tolling, inside and outside the empire. Charles also promising better representation and protection from external forces, The emperor even promising to give new technologies to the empire when Requested. One of the best liked technologies being gunpower, which is able to breach castles and other fortifications easier. Charles and the Archduchy of Lotharingia using this technology alot in the 3,000 soldier big Herzog's armee, which is a more profesional army which is paid by taxes. The Parliament of Malines supporting this as the army has to swear an oath to both the archduke and the Heyst constitution. This being a compremise between the Archduke and Parliament, as otherwise the Parliament would not allow the funding to the Army. This army being a force completely based upon merit, instead of on Birth and their rank in society. This Profesional army looking very alike the Praetorian guard for the emperor, which is a 500 strong personal guard. Their duty being the Defense of the Emperor, his family and no one else, they do their duty Loyaly as to gain their freedom. As after 20 years they will become free people, more then ever are or could be before. In the Northsea as a strategy to force the english navy out, the Imperial Brabantine navy begins to patrol. Altough costly the Archduke recognises the need in this action for doing so, as he seems himself as knowing a better king for the English then their current one. While due to the Current situations with Lorainne and the house of Valois, the Emperor and Archduke Changes his support to the House of Capet. This is done as the house of Valois could not accept the removal of a insane leader from the throne of Lorainne, which the Emperor had to do to prevent greater trouble.
  • A couple NPC italian sates attend the Diet of Verdun
  • Swiss diplomacy: The Central Council of the Swiss Confederacy sends an envoy to Verdun, specifically from the Canton of Sion, the canton closest to Italy.
• Swiss Confederacy: Hearing of Louis of Anjou, King of Arles looking for a new wife, Ulrich VI von Lenzburg sends an envoy to Arles, proposing a marriage between Louis and Ida von Lenzburg (b. 1336), the daughter of Ulrich's brother Wilhelm (b. 1316), hoping to obtain a political alliance between the Swiss Confederacy and the Kingdom of Arles out of this marriage. (Mod response) Ulrich VI also sends an envoy to Victor Capet, proposing a marriage between Victor's daughter Margaret Capet (b. 1335) and Ida's brother Gottfried (b. 1338). (Mod or papal response) After discussions in the Central Council, the Canton of Schwyz sends an envoy to Count Frederick V of Toggenburg, suggesting that Toggenburg join the Confederacy as this will allow them to receive greater aid to recover from the devastation of the Black Death and give them defensive benefits against Habsburg or Hungarian aggression. As the Count of Toggenburg's territory is currently split into two geographically separated parts, the main northern portion (including Uznach and the county seat of Lichtensteig) would be administered as the Canton of Toggenburg and the southern portion (including the OTL League of Ten Jurisdictions minus the still-independent villages of St. Peter, Langwies and Klosters) would become part of the adjacent Canton of Chur. Frederick V and future Counts would remain the governor of the Canton of Toggenburg and represent it in the Central Council, and he would receive monetary compensation for the southern portion that would be administered from Chur. (Mod response) The 5,000 Swiss troops pledged to the Holy League continue to follow the rest of the Crusader military; meanwhile, the 2,000 troops pledged to become the Swiss Guard continue training, mainly in a rural area of the Canton of Lucerne, and hope to head to the Papal States in the next year. Domestically, the government works on recruiting peasants to be lumberjacks to give the Confederacy more building materials and potential trade goods.
  • King Louis of Arles accepts the marriage
  • Victor Capet accepts the marriage
  • Toggenburg joins the confederacy
• Mali Empire: With the Trans-African silk road having been fully restored, Mansa Ayyob secured the same vast revanue of the empire enjoyed by the days of his father Musa. Ayyob has two adult sons at this point from his previous wives, the oldest named Mustafa and the younger named Idris. Mansa Ayyob writes to his trade partner, the Emperor of Ethiopia, asking if he has any daughters he would wish to marry into the Keita Dynasty. General Baraq Al-Shams continues to integrate the people on the coastal region of Jabal Asada. Across the empire, Manding secret societies continue to promote Mandike culture that helps integrate local peoples into the Empire, particularly in Kanem, Nigeria and Gao. The navy is fully reconstructed at this time, and the empire re-establishes sea trade up to Morocco and Hispania at this time. Having fully established the road and supply systems implemented by his father, Ayyob greatly enlarges the size of the Mali imperial military, giving the emperor more direct control over foreign expeditions than in previous generations. This is also mostly done from the southern and central provinces, where the Emperor assumed the military of the former feudal lords who were in rebellion. The military is also augmented with more proper siege weapons at this time, particularly gunpowder weapons imported from Spain. Mali did not manufacture their own weapons yet at this time, except for one small armory recently established in Timbuktu. Mansa Ayyob believes that the vital trade of Mali could be used not just as a dependency for the empire, but a tool as well. Mali must use a strong arm to properly control the growing regional powers of Nigeria. Therefore, the Mali Empire declares that all pagan nations must pay an annual tribute to the Mali Empire of 30 Mithqals of gold and 100 slaves, in order to have the privilage of buying or selling to the empire. Both Islamic and Ahl Al-Kitab (Christian or Jewish) people are exempt from this edict. [Oyo and Mod RESPONSE]. Meanwhile, Abu Yunus began gathering a large following of disciples at the city of Timbuktu, the center of learning and philosophy in Mali. In addition to his condemnation of the Caliphate and the Tamiyyah sect as a whole, he further preached that the five "pillars" of Islam were unnecessary for the faith, and instead he reduced it to what he referred to as the "three rings" of Islam: Prayer four times a day, fasting at Ramadan, and the Shahda. He specifically denounces the need for Hajj as a cruel burden on the faithful, forcing people to travel all the way to Mecca to pay homage to the Caliph. Of course, he has nothing against individual pilgrimages, he just denounces it necessary for all Muslims. Furthermore, he calls out other laws like headscarfs and blasphemy as being hypocrtical and legalistic, only used for the power of the religious elite. Instead, he emphasized some new customs and rituals that were largely inspired from West African traditions of the Mandike people.
  • Mod: 75% of the kingdoms accept agreeing that access to the trade network is worth the issue. the remainder consider themselves too proud to deal in such ways
• Kingdom of Eiru: King Tighearnach takes 1,000 men in the January long nights and sails them across the Irish Sea from Dublin to north Wales. Tighearnach and Mortimer and the 3,000 Welsh, Irish and German troops lay siege to Caernarfon castle and town building a circumvallation of defences to pen the castle inhabitants in stopping their food while also working on constructing a trebuchet, battering rams and other siege weapons to attack it next year. They direct all their waste into the Afon Seiont to deny the English water. Scouts are placed in the mountains and on the coast near to Caernarfon to report any news of an English army coming to relief in which case they leave 500 men to defend the constructed siege weapons which have their own defences built around them in the form of ditches, ramparts, palisades and sharpened stakes. While 2,500 men move out into the mountains of Snowdonia surrounding Caernarfon to block an English relief setting up field defences in the form of Irish hedgehogs and taking advantage of the terrain. If the English land on the coast 2,500 men go out to meet them and attack them before they can gain a foothold.
• Tian China:We continue too deal with the effects of the plauge, and it finally ends fully in April. With that issue now finally dealt with, and the plauge over, the Emperor is finally able to allow his children and concubines too return too Luoyang and join them there now that the threat of the plauge has ended and proven it won’t be returning for now. He also turns his attentions more fully too Taiwan again, and orders the invasion of the Pangcah Kingdom, the kingdom laying to the east of our Taiwanese territory. The troops used in crushing the rebellion in our former vassal states are used in this attack. The emperor also orders the resettlement of thousands of Han people displaced by the plauge and famine in the new Taiwanese province, in the hopes of swinging the demographics in our new Taiwanese territories even further in the favor of the Chinese colonists. He also begins to reopen trade with our lesser tributaries, and makes an offer of reopened trade routes and better agreements to our tributary, the Kingdom of Dai Viet. (VIETNAM RESPONSE NEEDED).The scholars that were previously sent to the court of the Hindustani sultan, and bringing back tales of the areas great wealth and prosperity with them. Although not comparable to the lands of the celestial empire, these tales begin encouraging many independent merchants to begin seeking to open more trade routes with this kingdom, and although there is no official government endorsement of this (due to the tributary system), the Emperor turns a blind eye to this, and allows this to continue. It will also lead to greater exchanges of knowledge between the two in the future.
  • The Kingdom of Dai Viet accepts the offer of trade and better agreements and sends 5 concubines as diplomatic gifts to the Emperor of China
• Latin Empire of Romania: Following our victories in Thrace last year, the Holy League receives news of the death of the Ottoman Sultan and the start of a civil war in that nation. We proceed to split the allied forces into two: the Orthodox forces of the Byzantine Empire and Wallachia are sent across the Bosporus to fight and establish a beachhead in that part of Ottoman lands; the Latin forces led by Pascal de Renoud, the Latin Roman general who led the allies to a victory in Thrace, cross the Hellespont with the assistance of the Venetian and Padinian navies (after the Ottoman navy had been crushed by the Venetians) (Two Landing Algos Needed). As we make our landing, we emphasize to the local population (which is still largely Greek) that we are there to liberate them from Muslim rule, and that we are working in cooperation with the Byzantine Empire. We seek the assistance of local Greeks (in both situations) to turn against their Ottoman rulers (Mod Response). Domestically, there are reports of an odd man, known as Hendrickus Pisacus, who travels through the Empire along his journey. While Pisacus dresses differently than other Europeans and refuses to eat pork, most ignore his eccentric behavior as he crosses the realm. Patriarch Philip of Salona travels to Rome to participate in the conclave, but hints at his own retirement which will lead to council of archbishops to elect his successor upon his return.
• Japanese Empire: This year the Empire begins working off some of its own built up momentum as with the plague having ended and various territories within the Manchu region having been wiped clean of population near the settlement of Aimoi, a wave of settlement arrives and some payments are made to incentivise the remaining Jurchen tribesmen now coloquially being called the Manchus to move further north. The arrival of nearly 600 settlers into Aimoi and the surrounding region once again solidifies the hold of the Japanese empire into the region specifically as the main town begins to turn into a proper port able to accomodate more and more ships. The fires having brought down many of the initially intended to be "temporary" fortifications have cleared the way for the city to expand in a more structured way along the coast. the settlement reaches 500 once again and some more farms and plots of land are rebuilt or newly built outside the city to help supply it with food. The expansion of settlement in Hokkaido continues with Sapporo beginning to address its crisis with its slums as entire areas of the city are ripped down and replaced with only those able to afford it moving back into some of the new housing. A much more well maintained road is built between Hakodate and Sapporo in order to more effectively connect the two settlements. As the plague seems to be confirmed over and more and more chinese ports are opened up to Japanese traders the administration at home looks to heavily expand its fur trading capabilities looking to fill in this niche for trade since it seems to be popular in china. Various manchus are hired by some of the fur trading companies which offer handsome pay for their ranging further north and establishing new areas for to farm for furs. With some of the manchu religious tendencies they look more to farm out a more sustainable policy for fur trapping ranging north into territory claimed by japan but not charted or heavily mapped to establish outposts and some small ranging housing to allow for easier possibility of fur trapping. The Kensei movement continues to develop adding nearly 20 new ronin this year and its success sees the allowance of some of the more senior members of the movement to set up a new temple as an add on to the great temple of Amaterasu in Kyoto. The Emperor learns of these men and agrees to allow this taking to more spiritual pursuits as he grows a bit older. The roadway network is completed in Shikoku and now the crowning achievement of Emperor Katsumoto looks to be completed. A massive stone network stretches from north to south across all her major islands except the sparsely settled Hokkaido. Internal travel and commerce as a result has skyrocketed due to the allowance of traffic being much higher. Some of these engineering triumphs see roads winding through mountains and valleys to link all of Japans major cities. Transit ports between the islands creating a link between the islands for the roadway network have expanded into proper settlements as well or have taken serious role in major cities where they were placed. The expansion of the currency continues as a set limit of silver, bronze, and gold currency are to be allowed into circulation and the next wave of coins are released into circulation. 
• Poland-Lithuania: Stanislaw I returns to Poland. All present reforms and projects are continued. The !5 k troops serving under the two eldest sons join the latin contingent in their attack with the 5,000 infantry assisting the landing of the catholic forces while the cavalry wait for once beachhead has been established.

1356

Habemus Papum! Etienne Aubert is elected the new Pope, taking on the papal name of Pope Innocent VI. He has now inherited quite a political situation indeed.

The Ottomans lose significant forces and some territory but manage to hold out a strong defense against the Crusaders. With Suleyman dead, Murad assumes power as the new Sultan.

With the situation in Hispania dire, the Muslim Andalusians embark on their own massive revolt led by a young Andalusian man only known as Salah-ad-din taking his name from the historic Kurdish sultan of the crusades. Rallying nearly 15,000 troops in Granada proper, they proclaim a new emirate and begin slaughtering the local christian garrisons. Further civil strife breaks out further in areas that maintain a plurality of the two religions as thousands more muslim Andalusians rise up as well hearing of their successful brethren to the south.

The Bishop of Trent, Meinhard von Neuhaus, has several Venetian liaisons arrested, after they arrive in the city ordering taxes be paid to Venice to support their war. The bishop also forms an alliance with the House of Meinhardin in Tyrol and Bavaria, as the Count of Tyrol desires Trentian lands for himself. Likewise the newly appointed Bishop Nicolaus, Patriarch of Aquileia, aligns with Trent and requests protection from the Pope should Venice attempt to invade and seize ecclesiastical lands.

The cities of Bologna, Ferrara, Mantua, Padua, and Verona, with the backing of Bernardino I da Polenta of Ravenna, the Milanese councilman Antonio de' Medici, and other nobles, form the League of Romagna, as an alliance seeking independence from Venetian rule. The rebels raise an army under Andrea Gritti of Padua and Condottieri Filippo Colleoni of the Great Company.

The Republic of Florence successfully captures Florence's former territory from Milan,following the outbreak of war in the north distracting the Milanese. However, the nation's politics become divided between the Seven Saints, representing the new patrician class, and the more radical reformers. The success causes similar discontent in allied Siena, where the merchant class successfully pushes for reforms, as well as continued aid against the Seven Saints. One of the lead opponents of this move, Silvio Piccolomini, is mysteriously assassinated, possibly on the orders of Giancarlo De’ Medici.

Condottieri Della Torre defeats the Milanese forces in the North forcing them to retreat to the city. More forces join the Condottieri's side following this victory and many view his victory in the North as inevitable.

The southern parts of Padinia quickly are overtaken by the internal struggle between the Seven Saints, and the Medici family though many of Giancarlo De' Medici's opposition continue to die of unknown causes.

With Great Zimbabwe failing to regain the loyalty of the Mwene Mutape, their territory south of the Limpopo river is lost to local tribes. The Mutape themslevs secures an alliance with both th Nguni and the Rowzi people in order to secure their autonomous feudal titles.

Eric Magnusson, the designated successor of Magnus IV of Sweden, launches a revolt to proclaim himself as Eric XII of Sweden and III of Norway.

At 7:35 PM on Saint Luke's Day, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes against Basel in the Swiss Confederacy, causing landslides from their mountains that kills 1,100 people.

The Sultan of Egypt has the entire limestone casing of the Great Pyramid of Giza carefully dismantled, and repurposes the stones to construct a new fortress for defense against the Abbasid Caliphate. Having recovered from the Black Death, Egypt has secured its positoin as independent of the Muslim theocracy.

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