Chapter 8: A Time of Great Changes
Emperor of China, Jiaqing (1796 - 1805)
In the Far East, China's unbridled hegemony of the East Asian states seemed unbreakable. In 1799, hopefully pre-empting the Russians, the Chinese Emperor ordered the invasion of the Central Asian states, the natural expansion room for the Chinese nation and people. The conquest had gone over surprisingly well, and ended with the last resistance stamped out in 1801. Chinese administrators and bureaucrats flooded into the region, setting up occupation authority in the pre-empt of Chinese settlers.
As quickly as the prosperity had come; it had gone again. In 1802, a great typhoon smashed into the coast of China, causing horrific flooding along the Yangtze basin, which brought devastation and death. For the Chinese Emperor, it meant more. It meant the end of the Mandate of Heaven -- for many, if the Chinese Emperor was so divine and chosen by Heaven, then why did he allow a vast storm to destroy thousands of crops and unleash horrible weather upon them?
To make matters worse, a string of failed crop yields followed suit due to rot and other diseases; as well as severe damage to them. Food became scarce in the winter of 1803, thousands starved to death, in both major and minor provincial settlements, which brought an even worse enemy. The piling of dead bodies with very little done to alleviate the growing piles in roads and villages, disease spread like wildfire in the country-side; the old enemy of humanity,
yersinia pestis.
The disease began to spread across China without relent, it sweeping into the city of Beijing in June 1804. The disease ravaged the capital city of the Qing Empire, leading to the Emperor himself falling ill to the disease after it spread to one of his eunuchs. The Chinese Emperor expired in 1805, after most of his family had already died, leaving a power vacuum open. His only living son, Mianyu, the prince Hui, ascended the throne in a time of strife, as the disease had begun to retreat after slamming across China for two years.
However, fed up with the rapid collapse of Chinese prosperity, a peasant revolt erupted in the Southeast of the country, lead by a peasant leader named Xu Jin, a farmer whose family had perished due to both the plague epidemic and the mass starvation.
Xu Jin's armies rallied massive political support from peasants across China, in support of the rebellion. While the Southeast was quickly defecting en masse to the rebellion; in the north, the Mongols mobilized and declared a state of rebellion against the Chinese Emperor, a similar situation followed in Tibet, with any pro Chinese lords defecting away. These three secessionist states began their rampage during the period of 1805 to 1807.
While Xu's army rapidly advanced through the ruins of South China, swelling in size, the Mongols had captured a large chunk of Manchuria, the home base of the Aisin Gioro clan, and drove west into the Chinese Central Asian lands, with Tibet. The Chinese Army, heavily demoralized, and without many leaders, continued to experience rout after rout in the war; all of this was occurring with very little attention from the rest of the world, surprisingly. Britain was busy dealing with the potential of war in India, Portugal was dealing with a rather hostile, posturing Georgia in Mozambique. However, there was one power of Europe fully aware of the circumstances.
In 1808, Russian soldiers flooded into the Amur, quickly routing and causing the further collapse of the Chinese Army, as the Russian army swept the region clean. During this period, as the army of Xu advanced into the center of China, a revolt erupted from the Ma tribes, who quickly confederated themselves to shut out Han domination. Xu was infuriated, and dedicated several batallions to holding the line with the Ma, preventing them from advancing any further than what he deemed acceptable, and using the rest of his army to push north.
While China dissolved into chaos, interesting things were taking place across the globe.
The Birth of Prince Henryk
In 1808, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth celebrated the birth of the first child of King Ludwik and Maria Clementia von Habsburg. The birth of Prince Henryk Józef Małachowski-Bourbon was welcomed across the Commonwealth, and provided the strongest means for Stanislaw Malachowski, beginning to show his age, and nearing the end of his mortal life, to shoehorn the most controversial Polish legislative action ever.
The 1808 Constitution was finally put into place, after years of debate and discussions with parliamentarians; it formally abolished the elective monarchy that had been in place for a very long time, granting to Ludwik II and his descendants, the permanent rights to title themselves King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania; the Constitution also abolished the liberum veto, which had stunted the growth of the state significantly. It was also with this, that Stanislaw Malachowski resigned his powerful position as Chancellor of the State, and retired for the last of his life, which came to an end in early 1809. Ludwik II had attended to his foster father's side. Posthumously, he decorated Stanislaw as Prince Stanislaw of Poland-Lithuania, and organized for him to be buried in a place of honor.
Poland-Lithuania had lost it's greatest statesman in a generation, but had emerged stronger than ever as a result. But almost immediately, an emergency reared it's head in Europe.
Armenian War (1808-1813)
The Russo-Turkish War is primarily blamed on the decaying power of the Ottoman Empire, and the desire for the Russians to prove their strength and power, which they had failed in doing so in recent years, having stayed out of the Danian War; as well, Russia had territorial designs on lands held by the Ottomans and the Persians.
The war's formal beginning occurred in September 1808 with the Russian army attacking an Ottoman garrison in Kartvelia; news of the invasion quickly spread into Europe, which met reasonable discord. The Austrian alliance was moderately supportive of the Russian side, seeing it as a means to invade and annex the territory of the Ottoman Empire -- even the vassal Voivoidates of Wallachia and Moldavia.
Poland-Lithuania was concerned at Russian expansionism, feeling that Russia may perhaps use this war as a springboard to further ventures in their territory, namely, Ruthenia.
Italy felt that the war could be a good justification to invade and conquer parts of the Balkans in the name of "Rome", but all the powers decided to observe the Turk and see how they did before waging an extensive war of aggression, or joining the Russian camp.
In the early weeks of the campaign, the Russian army faced a few minor setbacks in the form of attrition in the mountains as they crossed over into Ottoman Kartvelia. The first battles of the war were Russian defeats, and the Turks pursued the Russians north; however, once the Russian army reorganized, the Turks were met with fierce attack as they attempted to go on the offensive, being forced to retreat. The intense fighting proexisted for some time. Russia's generals, fed up by the failure of their armies, turned and issued an ultimatum to Poland-Lithuania, demanding Russian military access to invade through Romania. Hendrik II and the Sejm refused the demands, which triggered Russian military forces to enter their country anyway without permission, triggering a battle just inside Poland's borders.
Austria was outraged at this action; they had favored Hendrik II as well as his wife and son. After a string of battles in Ruthenia which had bloodied the Polish-Lithuanian army, which had been taken entirely by surprise, the Austrians declared war on Russia and joined into the war; pushing east into Poland-Lithuania to bolster their ranks.
Despite the recommendations of his leaders, Napoleone decided to remain neutral in the war; despite the fact that Austria had Italian territory, Spain was still a possible combatant, and he would rather not have Rome being torn apart by a multi-national coalition against Russia.
While the Russians continued to be battered on both fronts, rebellions erupted in the Ottoman Empire's territories of Serbia and Greece, forcing the Ottomans to divert military resources there. Encouraged by this, the Russians managed to advance into Kartvelia, forcing the Ottomans to retreat. Ahead of the Russian invasion, a massive Armenian revolt erupted in short succession, causing a frenzy of issues for the Ottoman Empire. By the start of 1810, the Russians had successfully ejected the Ottomans from the region, and poised themselves to invade Armenia. However, in the early winter of 1810, they began an interlude by invading Persia for their Azerbaijani tributaries, and the actual territory of Azerbaijan under their possession.
Yet, at the same time, the Russian army was faltering against the grand coalition of nations fighting in Ruthenia, and was soon pushed out of the Baltic and across the Dnieper, where the line did not advance again; mostly as the Polish-Lithuanians did not want to overextend into January 1810.
After the end of the early winter of 1810, Russia resumed it's invasion of Armenia and Persia in March 1810, managing to help the Armenians declare their independence. They were soon joined by the Serbs and Greeks, who did so in rapid succession after them. In June 1810, Persia capitulated to the Russians after being nearly ground to paste on the battlefield. The Russians pushed west into the Ottoman Empire, hoping to gain greater concessions, such as their prize -- Constantinople, or, Tsargrad.
However, as they slammed into Anatolia, ironically, the Russian army was nearly routed at Manzikert, the site of the old Byzantine loss to the Turks many centuries prior. Russia and the Ottomans sat in for the long-haul, and a grinding game of attrition and warfare, which would continue for an extended period of time.
In 1811 and 1812, while the war found itself grinding into a stalemate as both sides reorganized and reworked their offensive plans, the Romanian voivodes, with Austrian blessing, revolted from the Ottoman Empire as well, and united, forming the Kingdom of Romania. The Romanians elected one of their own to become King of Romania, instead of the foreign monarch that was considered by Austria to be the proper candidate.
Serbia did something similar, while Greece abandoned monarchy altogether, declaring the foundation of the Hellenic Republic in May 1812.
In the Summer of 1812, the Russians broke out of the Armenian stalemate and slammed hard into the Ottoman army, forcing a mass retreat from Armenia. After this, a peace conference was called and a peace was made, one that was both favorable and unfavorable to the victors and losers.
Russia made gains in the Middle East, gaining the Azerbaijani states, Kartvelia, and gaining Armenia as a protectorate. However, they were expulsed from the Baltic and from the western side of the Dniepr, something that embittered many Russians in Russia, but less so amongst the Ruthenians.
For the Ottomans, perhaps even worse, their empire was quite in a state of disrepair. Having lost Armenia to the Russians, their "allies" soon abandoned them and laid claim to land. Austria occupied and set up a puppet Großherzogtum Bosnia, to govern the territory indirectly, while Italy annexed Albania and Montenegro. While they retained control of Macedonia, Serbia annexed their upper region, and the Greeks gained their undeniable freedom, taking most of the Aegean islands with them.
The Ottoman Empire was now severely weakened, when the Treaty of Budapest was signed in 1813, and many believed that it would never recover from this fatal blow; much to the glee of their neighbors.
The Dominion of Ohio
Despite the defeat of American colonists, a large number of frontiersmen, Quebecois, and others mass-migrated into the very disorganized regions of British North America. This new movement lead to an interesting situation. A large collective of men of modest wealth from their lives as farmers, or whatever else, got together and formed the United Ohio Company, and propositioned to buy a large expanse of land to form a Dominion State in 1803.
Britain was initially reluctant, but after some financial convincing to several members of Parliament, the charter of Ohio was signed off to this new company, which inherited the Ohio River Valley colonies, and a large chunk of northern Louisiana and any territory west of British Canada.
A large number of Southern colonists spread into the territory with their slaves, as did even more Quebecois, and Mexican adventurists.
Flag of the Dominion of Ohio
Georgia between the Zulu War and the War of 1812
After the end of the Zulu War in mid-1803, the Republic of Georgia focused it's efforts on continually bringing the lands that was once the Cape Colony and beyond up to snuff for their standards, the standards of their old home. Schools multiplied and the first means of industry began to appear in Georgia, despite it being mostly agricultural. With problems appearing in Africa, the power of Georgian merchants began to grow rapidly. In 1804, Georgian merchants began to outpace British ones across Southern and Southeast Asia, outside where Britain controlled directly. Many native tribes, hearing of the resistance of Georgia against colonial aggression, praised them as examples to them all. the late Benjamin Harrison V's (and now his son, William H. Harrison) "Cape Trading Company" began to see it's power multiply.
The wealth of exports and imports coming in from Asia soon turned Georgia to increase production to send goods back to them. Africa was full of potential wealth, many believed, and this soon triggered what many called "Manifest Destiny", the concept that Georgia, as the bulwark against European aggression, must spread it's wealth, justice and freedom across the African continent. The first organized wave of colonization spread east through the Transvaal region, all the way up to the river border with Portuguese Mozambique, which was growing more and more nervous at the expanding Anglo power in the region. However, these colonization efforts ran into some blockades -- namely rampant, nearly unconquerable sicknesses spread by pests. The first mixed race families began to appear amongst the colonists as they sought to breed people capable of surviving the region.
After serving a lengthy period of time, ten years, President Jefferson declined a third term of office in 1806, preferring to let someone else take the reigns of power. The Vryheid Party nominated Jefferson's Minister of Finance, Robert Morris, to be the candidate for office. The National Democrats nominated a Boer man, Willem Bosman. The election was tightly contested, but the victory fell to who it fell to. By 1806, the Republic of Georgia's population had swelled once more, with voting capable people numbering approximately 87,500. Georgia was still microscopic in comparison to other countries, but it was a power to be feared in the region.
Willem Bosman (ND) - 43,885 votes, 50.15%
Robert Morris (Vryheid) - 43,615 votes, 49.85%
The election marked the second presidency of the Republic of Georgia, and the first one for the National Democratic party. Willem Bosman set into position his plans for the development of the country, which included even more rapid industrialization. It was this police that swung him into a victory in 1811; without much of an effort as the Vryheid Party had decided to focus on a more parliamentary level than a national elective level.
Willem Bosman, President of Georgia (1806-1816)
The War of 1812
The Republic of Georgia was a restless state, to say the least. With the Zulu War completed, and many still questioning why the Zulu had turned hostile so quickly. The reason came in the form of a Zulu prisoner of war explaining that Portuguese diplomats had come to the Zulu court and promised great benefit if they attacked the Xhosa and Georgia to weaken them.
The revelation caused a spark of outrage across Georgia, as many began to call for Portugal to be punished. The call for war grew so massive that President Bosman relented, and with approval from the Georgian parliament, issued an ultimatum to Lisbon, to cease supporting militant natives or face war. Portugal steadfastly refused, triggering Georgian soldiers to march into Mozambique.
Around the time of the war's break out, Georgia celebrated the 80th birthday of the Great Martyr, George Washington. To commemorate him, the city of Cape Town was renamed "Washington City" in his memory.
The Georgians were primarily supported by the army of the Xhosa due to the Xhosa's natural capacity to resist major disease vectors, whereas Georgians were still struggling to adapt to the harsher African climate. Finding very little resistance from standing colonial militia in Mozambique, the Georgians steam-rolled over the region in a matter of a couple months. The Portuguese Navy, launched from Brazil, attacked the Georgian navy near the coast of Georgia. The attack was called off after Georgia inflicted severe damage on the fleet of Portugal in Brazil; at the expense of several Georgian Navy ships.
While no attempts were made to conquer Angola at the time, the Portuguese launched several probing attempts to invade Mozambique and Georgia, and was rebuffed at each opportunity. Appealing for British aid, Britain refused to join their allies' war due to the relative instability of British rule in India, and the waning power of the East India Company as a result of this, and the Georgian's tenacity and hostility toward the very same company, being the reason of their revolt nearly 40 years prior.
Portugal appealed for peace to the Georgian government in the summer of 1813, asking for a peace treaty. The terms of peace were declared that Mozambique, all under Portuguese occupation, would be turned over to Georgia. With no means of reconquering their colony, Portugal accepted the terms, bringing about an end to the hostilities.
The immediate aftermath of the war lead to the establishment of Mozambique as the Unorganized Territory, which would be carved up and divided up later into territories and states as necessary.
1814 and 1815 were spent consolidating their holdings and their advances, as Georgia looked to increase the income of the state and overseas. Georgia, with tenacious eye, began to see an entirely new concept, Manifest Destiny, but the harsh realities of the continent would prove a great challenge. President Bosman spoke that Georgia's right to expand was true, yet at the same time, they must strengthen themselves internally before externally.
Around this time, the first migrants began to show up in Georgia, looking for a new opportunity. These people had risked death on the seas for new freedom -- Poor Portuguese from Brazil, Poor Platans from La Plata, Quebecois, Africans from some of the East African kingdoms, even several hundred Hindus from the Maratha Empire, looking for democracy.
Georgia found herself becoming attractive to those looking for a new start, which surprised many -- and enamored just as many. Georgia was, to them and others, becoming the land of freedom and hope.
Bosman commented on that as well, "
People are coming here because they seek hope -- and where else can they find hope, than on the shores of the Cape of Good Hope?"
Georgia's ascendance was nearly guaranteed.
