The Raptor of Spain

[MNP]

Interesting questions. I can tell you the Buddhist monk warriors do exist and do cause trouble with their feuding. There's also the desire of the courts to bring them into line and their farm land under the control of the government. Most of the time so far, the various factions try to keep them neutral. This may change later. The pirates also exist, but their activities are comparatively smaller in scale since there is less disorder. I don't think you can strictly call them wako since that's still a ways off in the future.

Socially, because pure military power means less relatively speaking, there are more opportunities for social advancement. The societal elites are more willing to support anyone who can increase their economic as well as military power. Merchants are not viewed as "producing nothing" though they aren't considered a pillar of the state like in Spaña.

As for the rest of your questions, I will let you know when I figure it out for myself.

If you have any thoughts on potential developments in a less militarized Japan, feel free to share them. I'd appreciate it, much!

[Grouchio]

When's the next update?

[MNP]

Probably tomorrow. Draft is 75% done.

ED: Got sucked into reading Gantz and Unbalance x2 this weekend... sorry.

[MNP]

2.72 -- Trust

The sun beat down with impunity. ‬Allegiances, ‬rank and religion were meaningless before it. ‬It oppressed man and beast equally. ‬Heat danced over unprotected flesh as the sun set every piece of metal afire. ‬Shimmer visions rippled on the horizon. ‬But these men were no strangers to the heat. ‬They traveled in two great columns behind two banners each had a hawk, ‬one on a gold field the other on a white both trimmed in red. ‬Once those hawks were united, ‬a two headed raptor looking east and west. ‬Now they flew together, ‬traveling in the same direction but liable to go their own way. ‬Under each banner there clustered a few men in armor, ‬with others holding a large awning over them for shade. ‬Everywhere else along the columns men wore loose robes[‬1] ‬and shirts of cotton or linen. ‬Only a few of those not under the awning wore armor, ‬a few carried it strapped to their backs but most of it was with the supply train making the march less of an agony if more dangerous.

Traveling under the white banner, ‬Rolando II looked to his right and swallowed his bitterness. ‬His bastard nephew sat his saddle like a statue, ‬back straight and eyes front. ‬From time to time Pedro would listen to a word whispered in his ear by one of his men or allies but his face never moved. ‬A man whose sunny homeland burned passion and honor out of him leaving behind a calculating mind, ‬relentless pursuit of profit and an arrogance born of power, ‬dry and sharp—a typical Spaniard according to the world.[‬2] ‬Whatever the truth of the image, ‬in practice the influence of Spañan culture was actively resisted in some quarters... ‬and Spañan weakness exploited. ‬After twelve years of unrest and confusion, ‬Rolando believed that Pedro was not his biggest problem. ‬Betrayal was the sources of his bitterness.

All along the frontiers, ‬former enemies and allies combined to carve off a little power for themselves at the expense of the Spaniards. ‬Decades and even centuries of dominance had forced cooperation but also bred resentment. ‬Fear and greed kept Spaña safe—even great Francia was humiliated by Spañan arms--but it was fear and greed that drove its enemies now.

After a series of inconclusive struggles with the rebels, ‬Juassan de Vivar had turned his attention to the Legion of Alfonso II. ‬In his last campaign he defeated the renegades and consolidated Rolando's grip on most of the peninsula. ‬Exhausted by many years of effort he died in ‬1177. ‬None of Rolando's surviving commanders were as good. ‬A bloody invasion of the southwest secured Mérida that same year but the cost was high. ‬Rolando often had to choose between border security and internal security. ‬Weakness at the political center invited adversaries and rivals to settle scores long suppressed by the crown. ‬The old city militias and State Guards meant to patrol the countryside could never muster enough force to deal with the infighting and their authority was questionable. ‬Rolando received endless pleas to do something to end the disorder. ‬Had the rebels been united they might have made real progress but proved to be even more divided then the loyalists. ‬Slowly the king extended his authority into territories held by the rebels, ‬proving himself forgiving in exchange for renewed loyalty.

As Pedro grew older, ‬gaining influence and securing him to hand became ever more urgent to the surviving rebel factions. ‬The old queen Edilaza grew increasingly ill while Isidro and Escribano de Mértila proved unable to manage the dissident factions without her. ‬Their attempt to do so resulted in Escribano de Mértila's assassination in ‬1178. ‬Since, ‬the largest cohesive rebel block was gathered around Gaspar de Clarós, ‬from Córdoba. ‬Archbishop Isidro vacillated between support for Gaspar and preventing him from securing hold of Pedro.

“‬They’ve banded together to fight, ‬but it’s not their natural state,” ‬Edir explained to the king.

All the while the great fear of the monarchy was realized as the nobility increasingly turned their wealth to securing military power. ‬A number of junior officers had abandoned the state armies to sign private contracts of service and these were sometimes joined by foreign officers and companies. ‬Results were all. ‬Less formal command structures built around rapid response to threats rather than static defense and large campaigns were prevalent. ‬Rumors cropped up claiming that some of these military commanders had overthrown their employers in favor of themselves. ‬Rolando came to the aid of several rebels who found themselves faced with unruly mercenaries and while this exercise of kingly duty helped regain their loyalty, ‬that it happened at all made the king very uneasy.

Italy was again a source of trouble for the Spaniards. ‬Rolando felt pride in the arrangements made in the south and that part of Italy stayed quiet and supportive. ‬The troublesome north did not. ‬Ravaged and abused again and again by the Spaniards, ‬as years of internal conflict engulfed the Spaniards Tuscany reached out to the single most powerful man in Italy, the Duke of Ferrara. ‬Ostensibly a Spañan client, ‬through adroit diplomacy and judicious conquest Ferrara had seized control of north Italy from Bavaria to Milan. ‬Most of this was done with the favor of Toledo—it served as a check on Provencal and Bavarian ambitions in Italy, ‬Now the Bavarians were fighting the Kimeks in the east and Rolando could do nothing to prevent the alliance.

A closer threat came from Provence. ‬Under the pretext of aiding his sister Edilaza, ‬the King of Provence invaded Spañan Godosa, ‬marching south along the coast with a small flotilla. ‬The methodical and disciplined way he reduced the towns in his path or made agreements with locals argued for long planning. ‬The most daring aspect of the campaign was a seaborne attack against Ordón, ‬north of the Pyrenees. ‬Its capture created a major obstacle to southern reinforcements but tied up the invading troops. ‬Ortiz Almagre and his wife Leonora of Puaton rallied the loyalists north of the mountains and attacked the Provencal troops besieging Beziers forcing them to flee. ‬Unwilling to abandon his efforts while still holding Ordón, ‬the King of Provence attempted to cross the Orb ‬river north of Beziers at the Roman bridge near Capistanque. ‬This time he clashed with Ortiz in a major battle. ‬Ortiz was victorious, ‬a large number of Provencal troops were drowned or trampled in their flight across the river, ‬and the foothold around Ordón became a bargaining chip instead of a threat.

Towns in the northern Godosa region, c. 1180

The Italian situation was no threat to Spaña itself, ‬the Provencal attack a painful but limited nuisance. ‬In Africa a much more dangerous threat was emerging. ‬In the reign of Alejandro V reports had begun to trickle in about conflict and religious revival among the desert Berbers. ‬Raids increased but they were nothing major, ‬some sheep stolen or a merchant robbed. ‬Mountain villages forced to pay for protection. ‬As early as ‬1174, ‬the western Saharan trade routes were united under the Genaya Senhaja though Rolando took no notice as costs remained the same.

Scholars have written books on the influence of the Kharajite Muslims on the religious thought of the region even after its Christianization. ‬One idea that had never died and was even furthered by the Spaniards was the idea of success breeding legitimacy. ‬Power was in the hands of God and resistant to that power meant imperiling the natural order laid our by the Divine. ‬Failures could be a sign of divine displeasure. ‬If (‬Beber) ‬kings were set over them by God, ‬their sins could cause God to set new (‬Spañan) ‬kings over them. ‬As long as the Spaniards remained the dominant power in the Maghreb this worked for them. ‬Success against the Berbers and Arabs, ‬Christian and Muslim alike was the result of holy favor. ‬Now the Genaya claimed the mantle and used northern civil war and weakness as evidence that Africa would pass to a new master.

The Genaya Empire burst out of the mountains in ‬1179. ‬Though hailing from the fringes of the Sahara, ‬they were aided by the Atlas Berbers who had been squeezed by the local governors in the region to pay for the prosecution of the civil war in Africa. ‬Taken by surprise, ‬the Spaniards fought back and performed well in the initial battles but simply could not sustain the larger effort of beating back the Genaya. ‬Sigilmasa fell in 1180, ‬but the real alarm was the fall of Mermaza in ‬1182, ‬which was declared the new capital of the Berber state. ‬While the southernmost province of Spñaan Africa survived, ‬by ‬1184 ‬the Genaya were once again moving north invading Barga in force and raiding almost to Mequinez. ‬The cities in the interior were surrounded and picked off. ‬The coastal ports became islands in a hostile sea. ‬In an ironic aid to Rolando, ‬it was the rebels which suffered the most as their territories lay in the path of the Genaya compared to those remaining loyal to the king. ‬Even this might not have brought Rolando's attention south but after the capture of Mermaza, ‬the Genaya had begun to raise the prices on the African gold trade to ruinous levels. ‬Ships could and did make sail along the coast, ‬but two thirds of the gold trade went overland.

The collapse of Pedro's support in Africa and the defeat of his Provencal “‬allies” ‬left him in a weakened position. ‬Now with the economy of all the state under stress, ‬Rolando extended feelers for renewed negotiations. ‬Rolando had adopted a more conciliatory tone against the rebels than Amina in the ‬1130s. ‬While he did fine rebels in territories he recaptured he did not dispossess or execute them and so they were willing to listen to the king. ‬Negotiations took place off and on throughout the period,* ‬but only bore fruit after the fall of Mermaza. By ‬1185 ‬most of the rebels were tired of the warfare none had been used to and the Genaya threatened their interests as much as the king.

Ironically, ‬Rolando found an ally in Pedro himself. ‬By now the son of Alejandro V was a man grown. ‬He took part in several military campaigns against Rolando and his own supporters to bring them into line. ‬While young, ‬he was able to stay calm and think clearly under the pressures of combat and his personal martial skills were commendable but he lacked an essential quality: ‬a desire to be king. ‬A pawn for most of his life Pedro resisted Rolando out of simple fear. ‬Even if he submitted to the king, ‬his mere presence would be a focus for dissent. ‬Rolando would have no choice but to execute him.

Pedro could see that the king was finally gaining the upper hand against him. ‬Facing the prospect of eventual defeat or a life spent fighting, ‬he did all he could to make some sort of agreement. ‬While Gaspar de Clarós had the largest rebel block, ‬Pedro gathered a cadre of men from younger and less important families (‬not all noble) ‬who chafed under the authority of the great lords or wanted an end to the fighting. ‬The combined power of Pedro and the king forced Gaspar to heel, and he marched reluctantly by Pedro's side as they marched with the king to Africa.

The Spaniards were joined by a force of Berber allies from the east, ‬but they were kept in reserve lest they betray their allies in favor of their distant kin. ‬The combined forces traveled along the coast to relieve the coastal cities and secure naval supply lines. ‬Once they reached Genaya territory, ‬small fortifications were built inland to secure the routes to the coast and defend from inland attacks.

General path of the campaign of 1186

Most of the army was mounted, with the footmen being used in a variety of roles and left behind as garrison troops. The army slowly shrank is it moved south, but early results were promising. A number of Genaya raiding parties were beaten off and most of the province of Saleh was cleared of the enemy. Throughout the rebels and the loyalists watched each other warily, but managed to cooperate when necessary. No one wanted the south to become a troublesome region, and Rolando granted some of the rewards from recovery of lands to Pedro to distribute as part of the original agreement. While this benefited the rebels materially, the king was seen acting as the ultimate overlord of all present. This was irritating to many, but palatable to all--barely.

By the time the army reached the port of Anafas[3] the summer heat was in full swing and even with ships bringing in replacements, the combined army could number only 6,000 effectives, less than half of their original numbers. After resting for some time in Anafas, the combined armies divided. Pedro marched along the coast to Mazago, which was the sole rebel-affiliated port remaining in the south. The king meanwhile set out for the stronghold of the Torres[4] to the south.

Located midway between Anafas and Mermaza, the Torres predated the kingdom. Under the rule of the Spaniards the village became the hub of local markets and administration. In the present, the lands around it were prosperous and thickly settled, with stucco-walled huts a common sight interspersed with larger villa-style houses done in the desert style.

When Rolando was told of a small Genaya force approaching the stronghold, he quicked his pace and drove off the enemy after a short skirmish. Entering the gates in high spirits he decided the defensive fortifications were in need of reconstruction and sent a large detachment back north to bring the necessary supplies and materials. When completed, the refortification would secure the gains he’d made along the coasts and provided a staging point for attacks into Genaya-controlled territory. For the moment he breathed a sigh of relief at being able to stabilize the African provinces at a low risk.

The Genaya returned in force a few weeks later. While they did not know the king himself was present, the opportunity to trap a significant Spañan force was irresistible after the defeats suffered earlier in the year. Rolando watched with growing trepidation as the Genaya army grew outside the stronghold. Carrier pigeons[5] were sent out in an attempt to call for help. The response was troubling. The men Rolando had sent north had not yet reached Anafas, and while riders were sent to find them Rolando knew the army--one made up largely of footmen--would have to be provisioned before it could return to the Torres in any shape to fight. After doing the calculations, Rolando was not sure they could arrive in time once the Berbers began their attack.

Contemplating surrender, a message arrived from Pedro. His men had already started for Torres and could reach it in four days. Their force was small, but if Rolando led a sortie out of the stronghold when Pedro arrived, they might crush the Berbers. The king was torn. The chance his nephew might simply be lying to facilitate the king’s death was real. Letting Pedro attack and be overwhelmed would be an excellent way to deal the rebellion a crippling blow. It was possible he could hold out until his own troops rescued him, but if he was captured it would be a disaster for the kingdom even though Radolfo was ruling well back home.

And so Rolando wrestled with the question, Do I dare trust my nephew?
___________________________
[‬1]‬djellaba variant
[‬2]‬Rolando is describing the alternate stereotype of the Spaniard,* ‬he doesn't actually see Pedro as this.
[3]Meaning “hills” in an alternate Berber more heavily influenced by Romance languages.
[4]Towers
[5]These are trained to fly to “home” and to “food” so they don’t always have to be hand carried.

Note: I wrote this using Libre office and it screwed everything up when I tried to post it here. So apologies for any errors in that regard.

[frozenpredator]

A dangerous choice.

perhaps Rolando should wait untill he can clearly see Pedro's forces and then attack while the Genayans are distracted

[Julius Vogel]

An update!

I see that Spana is having its turn at "bad luck".

I also await with anticipation the outcome to Rolando's decision!

[MNP]

Well the problem is I'm not sure the route to take and if Pedro survives what his fate will ultimately be. There are many cases where the rebel is killed as where the rebel is conciliated by the ruling power. Spaña is more like the Byzantine and Islamic polities in this regard than the WE ones for what that's worth.

As I've said before, a chance observation by minifidel launched the Amina-arc and went in a very different direction that what I'd planned but it was a good one.

[MNP]

2.73 -- Betrayal?

The breeze tugged at Dominico. Gentle but insistent, snatching at a loose banner or scarf, it urged him to venture beyond the walls. The path will be easy, it whispered, with the wind at your back. An easy path, but a hard ending for beyond the walls lay the enemy.

Each day the Genaya army grew and worry among the defenders grew with it. Dominico could see it in the way his soldiers avoided looking at the walls, in the way they focused on their tasks to exclusion of all else. These things were mirrored among the entire army with the exception of the king. King Rolando might have been carved of the same stone as the walls. For the sake of his men, Dominico tried to do the same.

Diminico's mother had never wanted him to be a soldier.

"Your grandfather died in service of the Queen, and your father over the sea! Bad enough to risk yourself here, but to go with the king ...! Do you desire your wife to be a widow?"

But Eliana's eyes glowed like smoldering coals when he wore his armor, and her arms were welcoming after a patrol. His last night at home she sang for him. Loose dark hair flickering in the firelight, accompanied only by her six-course, she sang for him while her fingers strummed a melody. A prayer set to song for his protection and to place her in his heart no matter the distance. At his departure, she wept soundlessly and gave him a smile that came near breaking his heart.

He still remembered the song, took comfort in it. Today his men waited. Today would come the test. Behind him fifty horsemen waited. Armored, straight backed, equipped with lance and sword, they were model warriors. He smiled inside. A provincial lancer, now leading a corpus[1] of provincials and royals indistinguishable from each other. Eliana would smile that inviting smile of hers when she knew. Assuming he lived.

Dominico saw the king's messengers ride out of the center keep so he passed the word to prepare to move out. When the command came his men were ready, passing under the gate with cool professionalism in proper order. Men joined them as they marched down the central avenue beyond the fortress, five abreast. The day was just beginning to brighten along the horizon outside the walls. It was barely light enough to ride but by the time they were ready the sun would be up and shining into the eyes of the enemy.

Atop the wall archers held covered lamps close to preserve night vision as they gazed out at the enemy. They tried to spot any sign of Genaya movement or awareness of what was about to crash down on them. So far all was well and Dominico was cheered when the large banner of the king appeared behind him. He could barely make it out but he knew his task. Protect the king at all costs.

The army gathered near the wall. They knew the part they would play and were capable enough to carry out their mission without most of the officers. Whether they could was a question for battle.

The groan of metal on metal filled the square as the gate opened. The enemy would soon realize what was happening, but these first moments were essential to victory. The plan was a daring--maybe desperate--one cobbled together by way of a pigeon and a pair of foolishly brave messengers.

"First company advance!" came the shout. Dominico waited. The men at the tip of the spear began to move. They were the most well protected and experienced. He had no desire to be among their ranks. Minutes passed.

"Seventh company advance!"

Dominico saw Captain Odón lift his sword. "The company will advance at a walk!" the captain shouted his northern accent barely discernable. Even with the use of a speaking trumpet, Dominco only understood the command because he knew what it would be in advance.

"Corpus to Dominico!" he shouted raising his own sword. The day was just about to break. "May it be but one day of many to come," he whispered.

* * * * *

The attack caught the Genaya just out of bed and overconfident. Instead of establishing field works, the Genaya focused on looting the countryside with large foraging parties. The local area was already picked clean by the Spaniards but the region was a fertile one. Great wedges of cavalry broke through the Genaya siege line at multiple points. The line broke apart under the pressure and the Spaniards headed for the flanks of the enemy.

Behind them thundered the main army, determined to break the ring of Berber Steel. The remains of the siege line were hit again with the survivors left behind to be mopped up by footmen from the town. But the success of the initial attack was not repeated. Surprised they might be, but unprepared they were not. Several hundred experienced soldiers were kept ready on short notice in case of a sortie at dawn and dusk. A line of horsemen formed up clad in steel[2], bristling with sword and spear.

Dominico could hear their shouts in Spanish and Berber echoed across their lines.[3] They started out to meet the oncoming Spaniards and showed impressive discipline as they picked up speed. They would be ready.

“Stay together!” Dominico shouted, gripping his own sword tightly.

As the dawn broke over the Maghreb, opposing cavalry charges broke against each other. The Genaya cavalry was strong and toughened by the desert. The Spaniards were stronger. A few of the oldest could recall the great clashes with Francia. At contact the lines dissolved into the swirling mess of individual combat. Dominico saw the man on his left go down. A moment later one of Genaya appeared before him. Dominico knocked away a spear thrust, swung his sword and met resistance. He kept his grip even as the blade was nearly wrenched from his grasp. Then he was through.

Dominico saw Spaniards all around him. Frantically he shouted to them to gather with him. The nearest heard and Dominico was not the only one shouting. Behind the battle line numerous small groups reformed and struck the Genaya horsemen from behind, trapping and wiping them out in small pockets. After about twenty minutes the Genaya cavalry scattered, but they’d served their purpose. By the time Dominico had reunited with his men and the rest of the army the Genaya main forces were ready.

Dominico saw them advance methodically behind groups with large shields and long spears braced against the ground. Arrows flew from behind them. Even though Dominico and the rest of the Spaniards were protected against arrows they caused confusion among men and horses both.

“Damn their souls!” Dominico snarled as their plan became clear.

Whoever lead the Genaya kept his head. He did not forget his numerical advantage nor that his task was to keep the king trapped. His flanks were tattered thanks to the damage wrought by the first wave, but they held enough for the center to blunt the Spañan charge.

Like the rest of the Spaniards, Dominico was pushed into a slow retreat back toward the fortress. Time and again he charged at the Berber line but each time he was forced to slow down and either retreat or try to shove them aside individually. Each time the press of spears forced him to retreat. The Spaniards had a few javelins and small crossbows not enough to more than annoy the Genaya. Soon the sun was too high to be a hindrance.

“Their line is beginning to curve around us,” Dominico told Captain Odón.

“If we fight, they will pin us against the wall. If we retreat into the town they destroy whoever’s left outside and we’re still trapped!” Odón growled.

It was a good response and it would have worked, but for the rebels.

The debates among the king’s men were mirrored in the rebel camp. A few including Gaspar de Córdoba kept it up even on the march. As the best rebel commander, he had more than a little influence. Pedro overruled him. The king’s nephew was backed by those factions most interested in peace or who resented how Count Gaspar’s family enriched itself the past ten years and wish to blunt its power. Wary, Pedro had placed Gaspar in charge of the reserves and couched the command in flowery language about how he would be kept to deal the hammer blow and oversee the battle. No one was fooled and Gaspar contributed little but his presence.

The most important role fell to the scouting parties. They had to prevent the Genaya from discovering them either by report or by a sudden disappeared among their own scouts. To their fortune, the Berbers had let much of their scouting lapse in favor of foraging parties that could be absent for days at a time and safely attacked. The night before the battle, the rebels marched under cover of darkness and spent about four hours resting. Their last advance would be short, rapid and require them to join the fight quickly.

The Genaya commander knew there were more Spaniards out there, but he believed it was a small group. Hundreds, not thousands sent to harass him. He was not concenred when the first reports came in of approaching troops. They were not threat. He detailed a few hundred men to guard the camp to prevent any kind of panic induced by a raid. By the time he realized that there was an entire army coming at him there was little he could do. His army was most of the way to the city. Their methodical approach minimized risk but it also left most of the Spaniards alive, albeit with tired horses.

Putting his faith in numbers, he split his men drawing on the reserves and some units that had already spent several turns in the line that day. Their sudden departure caused some confusion in the front, but the commander’s calming presence prevented any retreat. The delay mainly served to give the Spaniards a clue that the rebels had arrived. The commander gave the order to press the attack.

Even before the new Berber division was in position to meet the rebels, Pedro’s men had already by passed the camp and hastening to the battle. The rebels met Berber troops while they were still marching. The reserves fled back toward the battle pursued by Pedro’s cavalry spreading more confusion. Meanwhile the attack the Berber commander ordered finally opened up the Genaya front line and the king’s men counter attacked. Trapped and surrounded the Berber army shattered. Most of the mounted troops escaped, but larger numbers of footmen were massacred. In the meantime, Count Gaspar calmly looted the rebel camp by himself.

* * * * *

Pedro and Rolando met across a battlefield. There was an attempt to begin a formal meeting but both men chose to meet the other alone in full view of the armies. All was silence, then the king spoke.

“Bid welcome to my nephew, the son of my brother and scion of the House of Baiona. Let no man lay any misdeed or dissent at his feet. Any of these has been washed away by the blood on this field. He deserves reward for his service as a loyal and trusted Spaniard under the Crown, pledged to myself, the king.”

Dominico, tired and bloody, found the energy to be startled. The king was offering forgiveness and position in exchange for acknowledgment. He heard some whispered grumbling behind him but there was mostly silence. They were all tired of the struggle.

“By the blood of the grandfather we share, through the service of the men with me I accept on their behalf and acknowledge my uncle Rolando the King of Spaña.”

So the rebellion was ended.
___________________________
[1]corpus - lit. "body" used to denote groups smaller than a company. Eventually, "corps" will probably come to mean something else instead of OTL's army corps.
[2]By this time even many of the Berbers have some sort of breastplate instead of just mail.
[3]Spanish is used among the Berbers when their dialects or languages are not mutually intelligible.

A/N: Technically the rebellion is not ended just like that, but in principal they agreed to work together. There are still loose ends to work out.

[FDW]

Nice update MNP, I'm glad to you're starting to work on this TL once more.

[MNP]

Originally Posted by FDW

Nice update MNP, I'm glad to you're starting to work on this TL once more.

Thanks. The main issue is that I don't have a clear vision for the future (I do know how it will end) and that I'm becoming more interested in writing in the novel format with characters than narrative.

I appreciate those readers like yourself who keep up with it, even when updates are slow. It's been a long time since my iron man heyday.

[Julius Vogel]

Quite a dilemma really. How about doing a narrative segment modelled on a Marco Polo like road trip to the East

[rldragon]

Well. It feels a little bit anticlimatic, but I am glad the rebellion is over. Seems to me that I always reading about a revolt/civil war in this timeline.

Personally, I am more fond of a "history lesson" format as opposed to a novel, but you do write quite decently, so I suppose it would be bearable.

[MNP]

Well thank you for the writing compliment! Haha! It's been a turbulent century for the Spaniards in part because I felt I was letting them off too easy before. But on a wider level, it's easier to rebel effectively thanks to the rise of pike-shot tactics in the west and because the more centralized states create opportunities for major friction. Things will wind down some in the thirteenth century I think or at least the conflicts will be fought on different levels.

What do you mean by history lesson format? Sounds interesting.

[frozenpredator]

another interesting update, I wonder whats in store for Spain now.

Also I enjoy both writing styles so I say choose what you're most comfortable with.

[Arrix85]

Originally Posted by frozenpredator

another interesting update, I wonder whats in store for Spain now.

Also I enjoy both writing styles so I say choose what you're most comfortable with.

Seconded. Keep it up!

[jycee]

Awesome!! Seems like Spans might get some rest for a while, and perhaps be able to focus on more important things. Like that newly discovered land across the sea. But keep up the good work!!

Originally Posted by MNP

Thanks. The main issue is that I don't have a clear vision for the future (I do know how it will end) and that I'm becoming more interested in writing in the novel format with characters than narrative.

I appreciate those readers like yourself who keep up with it, even when updates are slow. It's been a long time since my iron man heyday.

Don't worry about having a clear vision of where things are going. I don't know think most TLs do. Writing is part of a discovery process. Even then I am guessing that you're stick in with the plan of everything happening sooner in TTL over OTL.

Originally Posted by Julius Vogel

Quite a dilemma really. How about doing a narrative segment modelled on a Marco Polo like road trip to the East

There was one a bit of a while back, when MNP covered the east. But every now and then these are good to have as they provide a good over view.

MNP how about a reverse Marco Polo? See the west through the eyes of an Easterner touring Bavaria, Francias, Spaña and Vykinland? And perhaps the Irish Ultramar? Would be a good way to provide a contrast and it could be done in narrative the way you did the update of the young Amina learning about Francia.

Originally Posted by MNP

Well thank you for the writing compliment! Haha! It's been a turbulent century for the Spaniards in part because I felt I was letting them off too easy before. But on a wider level, it's easier to rebel effectively thanks to the rise of pike-shot tactics in the west and because the more centralized states create opportunities for major friction. Things will wind down some in the thirteenth century I think or at least the conflicts will be fought on different levels.

What do you mean by history lesson format? Sounds interesting.

History format I guess means, regular TL style. I enjoy both and so far the way you mix and match here has worked quite nicely.

As far as rebellions go, I don't think it has been any much different from OTL if you really lay down all the conflicts happening at the time.

Keep it up!!!

[Scipio Africanus]

Great updates! I wonder what Pedro's future will be. I could see him being created a royal prince in exchange for his submission. However, I'm not sure what his title would be since there are few ranks in the Spanan nobility, perhaps "Prince of X"? I'm glad the civil war has ended, its interesting to see how much malice was directed towards Spana that came to the surface during the civil war.
Keep up the good work!
Scipio

[MNP]

More sea-going ventures will be in Spaña's future for sure. I did cover the Marco Polo like trip, but a reverse might be quite interesting. I'll have to think on that, might be tied in with sea going adventures as well.

Originally Posted by Scipio Africanus

Great updates! I wonder what Pedro's future will be. I could see him being created a royal prince in exchange for his submission. However, I'm not sure what his title would be since there are few ranks in the Spanan nobility, perhaps "Prince of X"? I'm glad the civil war has ended, its interesting to see how much malice was directed towards Spana that came to the surface during the civil war.
Keep up the good work!
Scipio

Thanks! I think there may be new positions created as a result of reconciliation. We'll see. Any suggestions for titles?

That everyone was angry at them is a result of their international success for some two hundred years. Most of the surrounding states have been kicked around and manipulated by them at some point, so when an opportunity to improve themselves at Spaña's expense showed up it was irresistible.

[Scipio Africanus]

Well, making duke a hereditary here seems pretty implausible, although in OTL it only became hereditary around 1000, it could theoretically happen. What was the title held by the house of Baiona before they inherited the throne? Count of Baiona? My suggestion would be to give Pedro a principality (apanage) of his own on the periphery of Spana that he and his descendants would rule with viceregal powers. Perhaps grant him the lands in Castile (Languedoc) that are partially under Provençal occupation, and allow him to reconquer them. He could also be given a principality in italy and be sent to deal with those rebels. His title could be Count/Marquis of (Castile, Tuscany, whatever), but I think that Prince of (name of principality) has a better ring to it and befits his royal status. This is in the vein of Rolando being made Prince of Crete before he inherited (and fought for) the throne.

My ideas here come mostly from my knowledge of French and English civil wars. Charles of Navarre, for instance, was granted extensive lands in Normandy during the 1350s to appease him and bring him back into the fold. John of Berry, in another example, was granted Poitou as another apanage just before the French reconquered it from the English, as an example of precedent for my suggestion above. George, Duke of Clarence was allowed to retain his titles and lands after he rebelled against his brother Edward IV during the Wars of the Roses in exchange for a submission similar to Pedro's. An Iberian example would be Henry of Trastamara being made Count of Trastamara by his father, although that happened before, rather than after a succession war, and obviously had bad results for the monarchy.
Scipio

[Geordie]

I've spent the last three weeks reading this TL from beginning to the very last post, and my only regret is that I took so long to start doing so. I've meant to for a long time, but finally managed to begin. Once I did, I couldn't stop again.

What a fantastic exercise in world building and character development. Your Turtledoves are very well deserved, MNP. I must admit, I was rooting for Amina to have a happy ending, but that's not always what makes a realistic TL.

For your reverse Marco Polo, have you considered sending another Chola west, in the footsteps of the adventure who brought with him the sword of India (I can't recall his name)? That could provide a reminder of the changes since the last visit, both political and cultural.

Anyway, now that I'm up to date, consider me subscribed, and keep up the brilliant work!