Hesperia [2nd try]
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HESPERIA; Part Fourteen; Interlude Europe
Hesperia founded in the first and second centuries by Greek-Roman Traders on the west coast of Africa, south of the Great Sahara Desert, was non the less a part of Europe. While the early Roman maps were very bad with longitude, due to the poor timekeeping devices available, Latitude was another matter. When the early Traders started moving this far south, even the stars in the southern sky changed. Several famous Roman Astrologers traveled to Hesperia just to see. They also measured the Angles, and made charts, and maps. Due to this both Hesperia in the west, and Axum in the east, were well know to the map makers, and to most well educated residents of the Roman Empire.
When contact was lost, many of these maps were preserved in Monasteries, and Churches across Europe. While the maps survived the associated knowledge often was misinterpreted. By the early 800's Hesperia was being confused with Axum, and the both with the great kingdom of Prester John. Theological debates raged over the exact placement in Africa or Asia, or even if the maps were allegories for the Heavenly kingdom to come.
There was one thing that helped keep the debates in the realm of the world, The continued trade in Christian artifacts, the Islam traders of the Mediterranean, were selling thru out Europe. The most beautifully worked Bronzes, inlaid with precious Metals, Ivory, Jewels, & Exotic Woods. When pressed, for were they came from, the answer was always just {south}.
This is the way it would have stayed except in the late seventh century around the Baltic Sea, a revolution in ship building occurred, Historians are still debating the How and Why, but the What, was a explosion of Norse men raiding across Europe from the black Sea and Byzantium to Ireland and points south. In 844* Vikings [ ie. rovers], Raided along the Spanish Coast. One of the main Commanders was Hoald Svenson. Among the loot from a Spanish Church, Hoald noticed the same kind of Artifacts, as he had gotten from a Irish Monastery.
When Pressed the Spanish captives could only say that, the Arabs traded it from a rich Christian land in the south. Hoald returned home with his crew, for the Winter. While there He got about the same story from the Irish Slaves, captured earlier, One of them even had a embroidered map. Hoald then spent the next three years organizing the greatest Raid ever.
In 847 9000 Norse men in 203 ships set out for the {South}
*This is the OTL year the first Viking Spanish raids occurred.
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HESPERIA; Part Fifteen; Interlude Mauritania
Hesperia was Founded by traders far to the south in Africa. But this wouldn't have been possible except that a large portion of the Atlantic coast along the way was already under the control of Rome. When Rome conquered Carthage in the third Punic war they completely destroyed the city. The problem was that Carthage was were it was due to being a crossroad between African & Mediterranean trade routes. In Fact Carthage was simply the great Trading Center of the Numidian kingdom of Mauritania, which extends from the Atlantic to Algeria.
The Numidian kingdom came to an end in 46 BC, under Juba I, who entered the fierce civil wars among the Romans on the [wrong] side of Pompey, and was defeated by Julius Caesar. Receptive to both Carthaginian's and Hellenistic Greek customs, the Numidians had splendid palaces in the Hellenistic style, Greek philosophers to counsel them, and temples dedicated to the Phoenician god Baal Hammon, sometimes assimilated into the Greek Zeus. In Caesar's triumphal procession, resplendent booty worthy of Numidian wealth and taste is paraded through the streets of Rome, along with Juba II, infant son of the defeated king.
Augustus, who emerges victorious at Rome after a century of war, grants Juba II the client kingship of Mauritania. His domain corresponds to a portion of the former Numidian kingdom. Reared at Rome, Juba II is a man of extraordinary learning, a collector and a patron of the arts. He marries Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the great Cleopatra defeated by Augustus. Copies of Greek statues adorn his palace, and he authors several volumes in Greek on a wide range of subjects, including a history of Rome, the antiquities of various nations, and research on language and the theater.
Unfortally, Ptolemy, son of Juba II and king of Mauritania, is murdered in Rome in 42 AD. The kingdom comes to an end and is incorporated into the Roman empire. Within four years, colony settlements with garrisons of soldiers are established in Mauritanian territory. These settlements extent down the coast along the Atlas Mountains, were ever there are watering spots, at the mouths of creeks, streams, & Rivers. Along with these settlements go Defense walls, Farms, & Irrigation Projects, and of course Roads. The Great Coast Road will extent from A Rebuilt Carthage [ The City was Needed, so the Romans rebuilt it in the 40's BC.] to Tangeirs at the Pillar of Hercules,where it turned south,
By 150 A.D. Carthage and Tangeirs are thriving and populous cities. Thanks to Their fine ports and strategic location, . By the second century, They Are filled with splendid buildings of Roman design, including bath complexes overlooking the sea. Numerous other cities in the region follow the Roman model. They have streets organized on a grid plan, a forum to serve as a civic and commercial center, theaters and amphitheaters for entertainment, and temples to the Roman deities Saturn and Juno, often erected on the sites of sanctuaries dedicated to their Carthaginian counterparts Baal Hammon and Tanit.
By 300 the Great Coastal Road Reaches to the End of the Atlas Mountains, to the Town of Remus, Where it encounters the Great Sahara Desert. This is also the end of the settlements till they resume on the other side of the Desert in Hesperia.
In 429 A.D. The Vandals, a Germanic tribe, invade North Africa from Spain. Their conquests are both brutal and swift, and they occupy Carthage as their capital. Although chaos reigns in the years just after they arrive, order returns in time, and Roman customs continue. The illiterate Vandals adopt the written Latin language, maintain country villas in the Roman style, and restore baths, theaters, and churches. While several Groups of Vandals pillaged down the Coast, all the way to Remus, By the time they reached here, they were more interested in Settling down.
During this Several groups of Refugees flee to Hesperia and for a while trade is ended. Within Thirty years trade resumes, thro with the ongoing collapse of the western Empire, It never reaches the level from before the invasions.
By 500 North Africa is in the hands of Vandal rulers, adherents of a form of Christianity called Arianism. The Vandals are few in number, however, and rely on the Romanized African elite to maintain local institutions. The Western Church based in Rome remains powerful, with the Latin language dominant. Cities founded under Roman rule begin to lose vitality, Several cities in the interior up in the mountains and along the southern border are abandoned, as the urban population dwindles and civic buildings fall into disrepair. Artists continue to work in the styles current before the Vandal invasions.
In 533 The Byzantine commander Belisarius leads an army into North Africa and conquers it for Emperor Justinian within a year. An edict of 535 establishes the power of the church of Rome over the region, thro most of the lower class continue as Arianists. Causing disputes over matters of doctrine and leadership. The Byzantine's assert their rule by restoring some North African cities and even building new churches, for example, at Leptis Magna and Timgad (ancient Thamugadi). Nomadic raiders on the margins of their domain, however, present a constant threat. The Byzantine's dismantle the ruins of Interior cities near the border and reuse the stones in defensive fortresses.
Between 644 & 656 Muslim Arab armies, under the reign of the Rightly Guided Caliph cUthman ibn cAffan, launch raids into and conquer parts of North Africa. And by 670 Under the leadership of Arab warrior cUqba ibn Nafic, Muslim armies conquer an area stretching from present-day northern Tunisia to Tangier (ancient Tingis) in Morocco, establishing the Umayyad dynasty in North Africa. Ibn Nafic founds the city of Kairouan [Rebuilds] (al-Qayrawan, Tunisia). In 711 the Muslims cross over to Gibalter and into Iberia.
In 836 The Great Mosque of Kairouan is built (with additions 862, 875, and later) by the Aghlabids (800-909), a dynasty that recognizes cAbbasid suzerainty [Eygpt]. Although this monumental mosque's architecture reflects the influence of Umayyad Damascus and cAbbasid Iraq, various elements, such as the building's T-shaped plan, are distinctly Maghribi.
To the South along the Coast the Remains of the Byzantine Armies and the Vandal Tribesmen manage to hold out . Dispute a slow motion ongoing decline.
By the early 800's century, however, caravans between North Africa and the western Sudan, and Close contacts with Islamic Spain and trans-Saharan trade bring wealth to the region. The Area still considers itself as part of the greater Roman Empire, The Population is Stableizing, and thanks to the Byzantine's , The irrigation, and other systems Have been rebuilt. If it can hold against the Muslims, it may just survive.
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HESPERIA: Part sixteen; New world
Sometime between 670~680 Hesperia discovered The Trimaran, and by 700 was starting to us them to explore along the coast. In the 790's they contacted the Portus Amnisians at the mouth of the Niger River, and in the 840's, established a trading post, among the Kongo tribesmen. While the first Trimaran's were simply several small canoes, fastened on either side of a slightly larger one, They grew as the Hesperians learned the art of ship building, By the early 800's the center hull on some ships were reaching 150~200 feet in length. The Ships were truly becoming ocean going vessels.
In 852, a Trading Vessel traveling out to the Cape Verde Islands, was caught in a vicious Storm and driven to the southwest. For several days the ship rode out the Storm. The captain put out a storm anchor, and while unable to maneuver clear of the storm, the ship rode easy, and wasn't really in danger. On the Third day the storm died out and the crew sighted land.
The Captain knowing the return journey would be Northeast, decided to sail north along the new coast for time before turning east. Several hours later they encountered Fresh water at the mouth of a river so wide it took close to a hour to cross. On the bank of the river there was a village, stopping to refill the water barrels, the crew noticed the natives wearing Gold Bracelets, & neck pieces [and little else]. Immediately the Captain broke out some trade goods. Placing the goods in piles, and indicating the Native jewelry. The blankets were good, the Glassware was better, but best was the Bronze arrowheads. Seeing this several Crewmen placed some iron Knives, and axes out. As the Captain, and Crew gathered up their loot, the Captain was already planning the next Voyage.
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HESPERIA: Part seventeen; Conquest vs Settlement
In the period 400 AD thru 850 the Roman Province had gone thru many changes, Invasions by Vandals, Byzantine's, And several attempts by the Muslim Berbers. The area was focused on Survival, Supposily part of the Roman Empire, Latin was still spoken, & Christianity [Arianism] was the religion. All that was left was the Atlantic coast, and most contact with Europe had been lost. even the name had changed Mauritania was now maghrib in the Mediterranean north, and Morocco along the Atlantic Coast. Therefore, No one in Morocco was paying attention to the Raids and Settlements made by a new group of Barbarians, across Europe, From Constantinople and Sicily to France and Brittany the call went up to Heaven.
OH Lord , from the Terror of the Norse men, Oh Lord deliver Us.
Of Course the Norse didn't look at it quite the same way, They were simply looking for a way to survive on their poor rocky farms, and if there was wealth and good land, they wanted part of it.
In 840 when Hoald Svenson, took part in a raid on Spain, He noticed the Similarities, between Loot taken From many different places in Europe, All suppose to have come form the far South. Hoald decided to cut out the Middlemen, and go straight to the Source.
In 844 Hoald Svenson set out on the Greatest Raid, made to date. Some 9,000 men in 203 ships, Left Norway headed south. A month later the fleet reached Tangeirs. Hoald looked at the defensive walls built by the Romans, rebuilt by the Byzantine's, and repaired by Ibn Nafic. Dispute the feelings of his self & his followers Hoald decided to trade for supplies. This wasn't the goal of the raid, and Hoald wanted to save his strength. So resupplied, Hoald continued south.
It was now that Hoald ran into a problem he had never expected. When the Romans had sailed this way that had set up their camps one day sailing apart, and Hoald ships sailed at the same speed. As such every day there was a new town, some welcomed, Some traded, Some fought, But every day there was a New Green Fruitful Town. And most of Hoald's men were young men, interested in New fertile fields, without a large population to stop them. By the time Hoald reached the Town of Remus, at the edge of the Sahara, he had less than 50 ships, & 1,500 Men.
Three days south of Remus, Sailing along miles of miles of sand dunes, He was down to Twenty ships, At this point Hoald admitted defeat, and turned back north. Back in the Town of Remus, Hoald set up Court. Declaring him self {King of Svezia Nova}. He would spent the rest of his life, encouraging others from Norse land to move to his new Kingdom, and trying to get the men who had sworn to follow him, to Accept his Kingship.
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HESPERIA: Part Eighteen; Overview
By 900 Roma Australis was a Large Cosmopolitan city, With a population of Several hundred thousand people. The Capital of a Prosperous Country of over 20 million people.* With large public buildings, Churches, bath and wash houses, roads & sewers. The Equal of Rome or Constantinople. With a Firm Ally in the nation of Portus Amnis.
Sixty years earlier it had established a Colony on the Kongo river. The Traders on the River were pushing up the River in search of a lost Christian land supposably at the head waters.
Fifty years previously a ship had been blown by a storm far to the southwest, where he found new trading opportunities. When the Captain had returned from the unexpected voyage,
the Scholars had consulted their Libraries & found the Captains new Land, The ancient Celtic Island of Braxile. Now there were trading posts pushing north and west along the coast.
Hesperia Traded With the Muslims to the North, and they traded even farther north across the Great Sahara, To the great northern Trade cites of Tangeirs, Carthage, & Cairo. While there were occasional border or Religion disputes between the Muslim Empire of Mali and Hesperia, Porto Amnis, they were mild & Short. Nothing for The Traders to worry about. So Goods from Braxile & the Kongo flowed thru Hesperia, to the Mediterranean & Europe.
This peaceful life was about to change forever.
Far to the North the Barbarians of Norse land had left their Rocky Shores and were Seeking a better world, for Themselves & their Children. In the East the Rus were settling from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In the West they had settled from Ireland, thru Scotland, England, France, Spain, Sicily, And In Morocco. The centuries old trade Routes could have handled a Small war, or a new Settlement. They had done so before. But this brought forth some thing new.
When Hoald Svenson set out on his great raid in the 840's, he had instead found a great place for the Norse to settle. When he Died in 879, his son Eric Svenson Inherited a semi Feudal Kingdom, The Norse had Settled, married into the local population, and started rebuilding the Cities and the Defense works. While few of the original Norse converted, Many of the Children were Christians like their Mothers. And more were so in the third generation.
A small Declining Christian Country, on the point of sucumming to the Muslims, was one thing. A vigorous Growing Christian Community was something else entire. In 894 the Aghlabids in Maghrib, gathered a Army and marched south to put a end to the Problem. While the Muslims were great land Soldiers, the Aghlabids forgot that the Norse were Seamen. In 896 while the Caliph was busy in Morocco, A very large force of Norse, arrived from the north on their way to join the Fight, They found Tangeirs with most of it's Soldiers elsewhere. In 897 when the Caliph returned to his Capital, He was caught between the Norse in the City, and the Svezia Nova Army. By 950 the Svezia Nova Norse had control of all the Maghrib, from Tangeirs to Carthage.
To the Muslims, This was unacceptable. In the early 1000's Among the Muslims rose a Movement, Lead by Berber named Ibn Yasin, these Almoravid, or Soldiers of the Sword, Practicing a very strict form of Islam, declared Jihad, Within 25 years the Almoravids were in control of North Africa, and had pushed the Svezia Nova Forces back to Tangeirs. Hesperia's problem arose when they pushed south across the Sahara into the Senegal. There they encountered the Hesperian Church, for the First time. For the First time Hesperia encountered a Foe willing to Raise and Sustain large Armies in the Field. They weren't interested in Trade. The Almoravid Jihad, would attempt to destroy the Christian Abomination.
* In the mid 300's [OTL] the population of Both Rome & Byzantine was 25~30 million each, while the population of the Senegal was ~2 Million. if I start with 50,000 in 300 AD with 3 kids per family, I get a doubling every 2 generations [60 years]. this gives me 25~26 million by 900 AD. Making Hesperia equal to Rome or Byzantine at their peak. I assumed several disasters to slow this a little hence my 20 million.
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HESPERIA: Part Nineteen; Legions
When Hesperia was Young, the Natives around the trading posts were not always Friendly. Now and again a native Chief would decide it was easier to take, than to trade. And so Rome had sent Soldiers. As there were many fewer natives than say Britain or Germany, There had never been more than a Legion sent, [thro the settlers sometime included retiring legionaries] and it was spread out among the camps. As the Camps grew into towns, and then into Cities, The settlers had formed their own forces, Trained by the professionals, usually once a Week. The habit arose of Soldier Work on Saturday [usually road repair & building] with drill after Sunday Church, and all able bodied Men took part.
As Hesperia expanded along the Coast and up the rivers along the Coast, the new camps/towns continued this. By 400 Hesperia has a tradition of Citizen Legions With a few Professionals paid by the town. The withdraw of the 22 de Sud from Hesperia, didn't change things. When Hesperia conquered Ghana in the early 700's, It had been these Citizen Legions called up for service to the Republic, that did the job.
During the Years of Empire, a change had happened. While Citizen Legions were great for Defense, or a Short War along the Border, they were not the proper instrument to control a Empire. So Hesperia Raised ten all Proffesional Legions, from it's population of several million. The Scholars, researched the origination as established by the Great Augustus when He had reorganized the Legions in 10 BC. Even after the Song Hai, lead the Muslim revolt, and the Empire collapsed, Hesperia keep it's professionals.* By 900 as Hesperia expanded into the Guinea highlands, the Legions had grown to 30. And as the legions had Grown, they had become a political Force in Hesperia's Politics.
Realizing that part ,of the fall of the First Republic had been the reliance, on the professional Soldier, Hesperia also maintained the Citizen Legion as backup, thro all able bodied , was reduced all who join. In the established Cities, and towns the citizen legions became a hit or miss thing, with the Young men joining just because it was the Families Legion. And they were in effect a social, political Club. On the Borders, and Frontiers, thro the Citizen legions still were the backup Militia. When Hesperia sent Military advisors to Porto Amnis in 850, this is the organization they took with them. And this is what the Almoravids called Jihad on it the late 1000's.
* When the Ghana's revolted in 760, the legions found new jobs, as Marines, Dispatch Rider, Border Guard, etc.. They also did the Job the Original Legion did. Guarding new Trading Camps.
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HESPERIA: Part twenty; Cry Havoc
When Hoald Svenson founded the Kingdom of Nova Svezia in what remained of Roman Mauritania, He set in motion events that would return Hesperia into European affairs. The war that ensued over north Africa gave rise to Fundamental religionish movement among the Muslims. The Almoravids preached a strict Jurists Interpretation of the Koranic Laws,* And jihad against the Christians, who had conquered North Africa.
In 1039 The Almoravid leader Abdallah bni Yasin declares holy war against the Nova Svezians, within several years they had captured Carthage, and were working their way westward., By 1059 they control Maghrib [OTL Tunis & Algiers] and are preparing to Attacking Tangeirs & Nova Svezia. At the Same time they Cross over to Spain.
In 1049 The Almoravid leader Yusuf bni Tashufin sets over to Spain, and establishes himself in Cordoba. a year later in 1050, At the Battle of za-Zallaqa Yusuf lost the city of Toledo to the Christians. Yusuf returned to Maghreb, as he could not decide whether to conquer Spain or not, as the country was governed by weak Muslim rulers. By 1054 Yusef has made up his mind. Yusuf starts a policy of deposing the Muslim rulers, hence extending Almoravid control in Spain. He first has the leaders of Granada and Malaga removed from power.
and in 1059 The leaders of AlmerÃ*a and Seville are removed from power as well. this is Followed by Badajoz, & Valencia.
When the Almoravids captured Carthage they started down the trade routes. Taking over the Town and Cities as they came to them. By 1055 they arrive at Mali, which is attempting to put down a revolt by the Sonhai, Weakened by this civil war both sides surcome to the Almorvids. As such this Brings them into Contact for the first time with the Hesperians.
It takes some time for the Leadership of the Almoravids to realize that here is a Christian Kingdom, and at first the Hesperians are considered to be the Fabulous Prester John. Then a couple of the Almoravids Jurists get hold of a copy of the Hesperian Bible. After that there is no way that peaceful relations can be established. In 1059 The Almoravid leaders Abdallah & Yusuf declare Jihad on the Great Heretics.*
It is a undertaking that Military Historians and Military Logistics will study for the next thousand years, How the Almoravids transported 77,000 troops and all their Supplies, across 1600 miles of Desert to attack Hesperia. The Almoravids Charged in, Before realizing just what they were up Against, Thro Some of the Muslim traders tried to tell them.
If Hesperia had still been that strip of Land settled by traders back before the fall of Rome. Or even that Proto-Empire that had lost when Ghana rebelled in the early days of Islam. But no, this was Hesperia, Growing, Developing, Expanding, for close to 600 years. Roma Australis was the Capital of a Nation that stretched along the coast from north of the Senegal River south and east to just past the Volta River. with a Hinterland from 4~500 miles inland thru the Guinea Highlands. With a Population of 25 million, and a standing Army of fifty Legions. And if you add in it's ally of Portus Amnis, you got another two million citizens, and 10 legions.
Of Course, Not all was Hesperia's way. ten of those legions were elsewhere, Guarding trading posts south from Portus Amnis, to southern Africa. And in Braxile , stretching 8~900 north & south of the Amazon. Another ten were city Legions, More use to being Police than Soldiers, The rest while well trained hadn't seen real Combat, as the Muslim Sahel Kingdoms, had reached a understanding with Hesperia, close to 100 years before. This then is the situation on the eve of war.
* Remember that Abdul Assemi reworked and rewrote the Books of the Bible and included large parts of the Koran, into his Vision. The Muslims are acting the Same way the Christians Did, when Joseph Smith rewrote the Bible, to include The Book of Mormon. Imagine the Taliban/Al-Quada, reacting to the Vatican rewriting the Koran.
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HESPERIA; Part twenty one: Let Loose
When the Almoravids called Jihad on Hesperia in 1059, the Hesperians found themselves with a foe unlike any Hesperia had ever faced. The Original Malinke, Asante, and Dahomey Tribesmen, while not always peaceful, had succumbed to a combination of small battles and relentless long term population expansion of the part of the Hesperians. A Tactic that seemed to be working in the new settlement of Kongo, & Braxile.
In the 700's During Hesperia's brief fling with Empire, and Revolt, a combination of Citizen Legions, followed by Professional Legions, had been enuff to uphold Hesperia. As the Senegal Kingdoms had been more interested in perusing Trade, than War. Besides their Military's, were more like enlarged Tribal forces, than Armies.
However the Almoravids who conquered Mali in 1055, did it with professional soldiers. And the Army that they brought south in 1062, to Convert the Hesperians, Was a fully professional force of true believers. Uninterested in trade, and too {rite there} for the long term approach. The Hesperians would be tested Militarily like never before. The outcome would change the world.
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Hesperia: Part twenty two; The Dogs of War
When the Almoravids conquered Mali in 1055, they had sent a Army of 6,000 Soldiers. This along with the 77,000 they had brought to the Jihad, gave them a force of 83,000 men. This was opposed by 30,000 in Hesperia, and 10,000 in Portus Amnis. The Muslim plan involved Three thrusts. Starting in the Mali Capital of Tombouctou The Main Army of 48,000 would move down the Senegal River towards Roma Austrilus. The second force of 24,000 would travel down the Niger River towards Portus Amnis. The third consisting of 8,000 men would move to the coast and turn south to attack Hesperia from the north.
Of course all these preparations didn't go unnoticed by the Hesperians. The problem was in deciding how to respond. While the Legions marched out to defend the land, the Imperial Governor* & the Senate** wangled over what else should be done.
The first Battles didn't go very well for the Hesperians. Out numbered and inexpericed, The Hesperians made Mistakes. By 1063 the Hesperians were pushed back out of the highlands north of the Senagel River. Thousands of refugees had swarmed into Roma Australis, spreading panic, both in the streets and in the Senate. To the East on the Niger River, the Muslim Armies were enjoying equal sucess. the One bright Spot for the Hesperians was in the north.
Back in 538, During the Great plague Hesparia had abandoned it's northern most settlements. In the 500 years since the area had been left to the Outcasts & various groups of Neer-do-wells. this had lead to the region haveing a disordered Repertation [think wild wild west, here]. In fact the area had long almost settled down, but enjoyed having the Repertation. Of Couse as the northern most area of the nation, rite on the edge of the desert, they had the greastest contact with the Desert Berber Tribemen, & their Camels. And as these contact were not allways Peaceful, the Citizen Legions in the Area, were well able to handle Camel Calvery. this being one of the reasons for the defeats elsewhere.
When the 8,000 Alamoravid Muslims sweep out of the northern Desert, they were meet by 12 Legions, led by the Local General, Paul Aitradus. In a Battle that would be studied for years, like Hannibel at Cannedes. Paul's forces surrounded and anniliated the Almoravids, killing 7500, while losing only 450 men.
It was now that Paul Artrimedus made the decidision that lead to todays Hesperia. Instead of sending the legions back Home, Paul headed for Roma.
Mean while far to the South, unaware of the events back home, a trading party camped overnite in the shadow of a great Table shaped Mountain, before setting sail North on the East side of Africa.
* The Title of Imperial Governor had remained even thro the position was filled by elections in the Senate.
** The Senate consisted of four branches all meeting together, The Traders Council, The Guild Houses, & the Landowners. there were also a group of Others who had ended up with positions in the Senate, for various reasons. [ Milatary, Native Cheifs, & ambassadorial persons from Portus Amnis, The Kongo, & the Settlements, Ect. ]
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Hesperia: Part twenty three; The First law of War - Is Murphy's
HESPERIA; Part Fourteen; Interlude Europe
Hesperia founded in the first and second centuries by Greek-Roman Traders on the west coast of Africa, south of the Great Sahara Desert, was non the less a part of Europe. While the early Roman maps were very bad with longitude, due to the poor timekeeping devices available, Latitude was another matter. When the early Traders started moving this far south, even the stars in the southern sky changed. Several famous Roman Astrologers traveled to Hesperia just to see. They also measured the Angles, and made charts, and maps. Due to this both Hesperia in the west, and Axum in the east, were well know to the map makers, and to most well educated residents of the Roman Empire.
When contact was lost, many of these maps were preserved in Monasteries, and Churches across Europe. While the maps survived the associated knowledge often was misinterpreted. By the early 800's Hesperia was being confused with Axum, and the both with the great kingdom of Prester John. Theological debates raged over the exact placement in Africa or Asia, or even if the maps were allegories for the Heavenly kingdom to come.
There was one thing that helped keep the debates in the realm of the world, The continued trade in Christian artifacts, the Islam traders of the Mediterranean, were selling thru out Europe. The most beautifully worked Bronzes, inlaid with precious Metals, Ivory, Jewels, & Exotic Woods. When pressed, for were they came from, the answer was always just {south}.
This is the way it would have stayed except in the late seventh century around the Baltic Sea, a revolution in ship building occurred, Historians are still debating the How and Why, but the What, was a explosion of Norse men raiding across Europe from the black Sea and Byzantium to Ireland and points south. In 844* Vikings [ ie. rovers], Raided along the Spanish Coast. One of the main Commanders was Hoald Svenson. Among the loot from a Spanish Church, Hoald noticed the same kind of Artifacts, as he had gotten from a Irish Monastery.
When Pressed the Spanish captives could only say that, the Arabs traded it from a rich Christian land in the south. Hoald returned home with his crew, for the Winter. While there He got about the same story from the Irish Slaves, captured earlier, One of them even had a embroidered map. Hoald then spent the next three years organizing the greatest Raid ever.
In 847 9000 Norse men in 203 ships set out for the {South}
*This is the OTL year the first Viking Spanish raids occurred.
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HESPERIA; Part Fifteen; Interlude Mauritania
Hesperia was Founded by traders far to the south in Africa. But this wouldn't have been possible except that a large portion of the Atlantic coast along the way was already under the control of Rome. When Rome conquered Carthage in the third Punic war they completely destroyed the city. The problem was that Carthage was were it was due to being a crossroad between African & Mediterranean trade routes. In Fact Carthage was simply the great Trading Center of the Numidian kingdom of Mauritania, which extends from the Atlantic to Algeria.
The Numidian kingdom came to an end in 46 BC, under Juba I, who entered the fierce civil wars among the Romans on the [wrong] side of Pompey, and was defeated by Julius Caesar. Receptive to both Carthaginian's and Hellenistic Greek customs, the Numidians had splendid palaces in the Hellenistic style, Greek philosophers to counsel them, and temples dedicated to the Phoenician god Baal Hammon, sometimes assimilated into the Greek Zeus. In Caesar's triumphal procession, resplendent booty worthy of Numidian wealth and taste is paraded through the streets of Rome, along with Juba II, infant son of the defeated king.
Augustus, who emerges victorious at Rome after a century of war, grants Juba II the client kingship of Mauritania. His domain corresponds to a portion of the former Numidian kingdom. Reared at Rome, Juba II is a man of extraordinary learning, a collector and a patron of the arts. He marries Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the great Cleopatra defeated by Augustus. Copies of Greek statues adorn his palace, and he authors several volumes in Greek on a wide range of subjects, including a history of Rome, the antiquities of various nations, and research on language and the theater.
Unfortally, Ptolemy, son of Juba II and king of Mauritania, is murdered in Rome in 42 AD. The kingdom comes to an end and is incorporated into the Roman empire. Within four years, colony settlements with garrisons of soldiers are established in Mauritanian territory. These settlements extent down the coast along the Atlas Mountains, were ever there are watering spots, at the mouths of creeks, streams, & Rivers. Along with these settlements go Defense walls, Farms, & Irrigation Projects, and of course Roads. The Great Coast Road will extent from A Rebuilt Carthage [ The City was Needed, so the Romans rebuilt it in the 40's BC.] to Tangeirs at the Pillar of Hercules,where it turned south,
By 150 A.D. Carthage and Tangeirs are thriving and populous cities. Thanks to Their fine ports and strategic location, . By the second century, They Are filled with splendid buildings of Roman design, including bath complexes overlooking the sea. Numerous other cities in the region follow the Roman model. They have streets organized on a grid plan, a forum to serve as a civic and commercial center, theaters and amphitheaters for entertainment, and temples to the Roman deities Saturn and Juno, often erected on the sites of sanctuaries dedicated to their Carthaginian counterparts Baal Hammon and Tanit.
By 300 the Great Coastal Road Reaches to the End of the Atlas Mountains, to the Town of Remus, Where it encounters the Great Sahara Desert. This is also the end of the settlements till they resume on the other side of the Desert in Hesperia.
In 429 A.D. The Vandals, a Germanic tribe, invade North Africa from Spain. Their conquests are both brutal and swift, and they occupy Carthage as their capital. Although chaos reigns in the years just after they arrive, order returns in time, and Roman customs continue. The illiterate Vandals adopt the written Latin language, maintain country villas in the Roman style, and restore baths, theaters, and churches. While several Groups of Vandals pillaged down the Coast, all the way to Remus, By the time they reached here, they were more interested in Settling down.
During this Several groups of Refugees flee to Hesperia and for a while trade is ended. Within Thirty years trade resumes, thro with the ongoing collapse of the western Empire, It never reaches the level from before the invasions.
By 500 North Africa is in the hands of Vandal rulers, adherents of a form of Christianity called Arianism. The Vandals are few in number, however, and rely on the Romanized African elite to maintain local institutions. The Western Church based in Rome remains powerful, with the Latin language dominant. Cities founded under Roman rule begin to lose vitality, Several cities in the interior up in the mountains and along the southern border are abandoned, as the urban population dwindles and civic buildings fall into disrepair. Artists continue to work in the styles current before the Vandal invasions.
In 533 The Byzantine commander Belisarius leads an army into North Africa and conquers it for Emperor Justinian within a year. An edict of 535 establishes the power of the church of Rome over the region, thro most of the lower class continue as Arianists. Causing disputes over matters of doctrine and leadership. The Byzantine's assert their rule by restoring some North African cities and even building new churches, for example, at Leptis Magna and Timgad (ancient Thamugadi). Nomadic raiders on the margins of their domain, however, present a constant threat. The Byzantine's dismantle the ruins of Interior cities near the border and reuse the stones in defensive fortresses.
Between 644 & 656 Muslim Arab armies, under the reign of the Rightly Guided Caliph cUthman ibn cAffan, launch raids into and conquer parts of North Africa. And by 670 Under the leadership of Arab warrior cUqba ibn Nafic, Muslim armies conquer an area stretching from present-day northern Tunisia to Tangier (ancient Tingis) in Morocco, establishing the Umayyad dynasty in North Africa. Ibn Nafic founds the city of Kairouan [Rebuilds] (al-Qayrawan, Tunisia). In 711 the Muslims cross over to Gibalter and into Iberia.
In 836 The Great Mosque of Kairouan is built (with additions 862, 875, and later) by the Aghlabids (800-909), a dynasty that recognizes cAbbasid suzerainty [Eygpt]. Although this monumental mosque's architecture reflects the influence of Umayyad Damascus and cAbbasid Iraq, various elements, such as the building's T-shaped plan, are distinctly Maghribi.
To the South along the Coast the Remains of the Byzantine Armies and the Vandal Tribesmen manage to hold out . Dispute a slow motion ongoing decline.
By the early 800's century, however, caravans between North Africa and the western Sudan, and Close contacts with Islamic Spain and trans-Saharan trade bring wealth to the region. The Area still considers itself as part of the greater Roman Empire, The Population is Stableizing, and thanks to the Byzantine's , The irrigation, and other systems Have been rebuilt. If it can hold against the Muslims, it may just survive.
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HESPERIA: Part sixteen; New world
Sometime between 670~680 Hesperia discovered The Trimaran, and by 700 was starting to us them to explore along the coast. In the 790's they contacted the Portus Amnisians at the mouth of the Niger River, and in the 840's, established a trading post, among the Kongo tribesmen. While the first Trimaran's were simply several small canoes, fastened on either side of a slightly larger one, They grew as the Hesperians learned the art of ship building, By the early 800's the center hull on some ships were reaching 150~200 feet in length. The Ships were truly becoming ocean going vessels.
In 852, a Trading Vessel traveling out to the Cape Verde Islands, was caught in a vicious Storm and driven to the southwest. For several days the ship rode out the Storm. The captain put out a storm anchor, and while unable to maneuver clear of the storm, the ship rode easy, and wasn't really in danger. On the Third day the storm died out and the crew sighted land.
The Captain knowing the return journey would be Northeast, decided to sail north along the new coast for time before turning east. Several hours later they encountered Fresh water at the mouth of a river so wide it took close to a hour to cross. On the bank of the river there was a village, stopping to refill the water barrels, the crew noticed the natives wearing Gold Bracelets, & neck pieces [and little else]. Immediately the Captain broke out some trade goods. Placing the goods in piles, and indicating the Native jewelry. The blankets were good, the Glassware was better, but best was the Bronze arrowheads. Seeing this several Crewmen placed some iron Knives, and axes out. As the Captain, and Crew gathered up their loot, the Captain was already planning the next Voyage.
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HESPERIA: Part seventeen; Conquest vs Settlement
In the period 400 AD thru 850 the Roman Province had gone thru many changes, Invasions by Vandals, Byzantine's, And several attempts by the Muslim Berbers. The area was focused on Survival, Supposily part of the Roman Empire, Latin was still spoken, & Christianity [Arianism] was the religion. All that was left was the Atlantic coast, and most contact with Europe had been lost. even the name had changed Mauritania was now maghrib in the Mediterranean north, and Morocco along the Atlantic Coast. Therefore, No one in Morocco was paying attention to the Raids and Settlements made by a new group of Barbarians, across Europe, From Constantinople and Sicily to France and Brittany the call went up to Heaven.
OH Lord , from the Terror of the Norse men, Oh Lord deliver Us.
Of Course the Norse didn't look at it quite the same way, They were simply looking for a way to survive on their poor rocky farms, and if there was wealth and good land, they wanted part of it.
In 840 when Hoald Svenson, took part in a raid on Spain, He noticed the Similarities, between Loot taken From many different places in Europe, All suppose to have come form the far South. Hoald decided to cut out the Middlemen, and go straight to the Source.
In 844 Hoald Svenson set out on the Greatest Raid, made to date. Some 9,000 men in 203 ships, Left Norway headed south. A month later the fleet reached Tangeirs. Hoald looked at the defensive walls built by the Romans, rebuilt by the Byzantine's, and repaired by Ibn Nafic. Dispute the feelings of his self & his followers Hoald decided to trade for supplies. This wasn't the goal of the raid, and Hoald wanted to save his strength. So resupplied, Hoald continued south.
It was now that Hoald ran into a problem he had never expected. When the Romans had sailed this way that had set up their camps one day sailing apart, and Hoald ships sailed at the same speed. As such every day there was a new town, some welcomed, Some traded, Some fought, But every day there was a New Green Fruitful Town. And most of Hoald's men were young men, interested in New fertile fields, without a large population to stop them. By the time Hoald reached the Town of Remus, at the edge of the Sahara, he had less than 50 ships, & 1,500 Men.
Three days south of Remus, Sailing along miles of miles of sand dunes, He was down to Twenty ships, At this point Hoald admitted defeat, and turned back north. Back in the Town of Remus, Hoald set up Court. Declaring him self {King of Svezia Nova}. He would spent the rest of his life, encouraging others from Norse land to move to his new Kingdom, and trying to get the men who had sworn to follow him, to Accept his Kingship.
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HESPERIA: Part Eighteen; Overview
By 900 Roma Australis was a Large Cosmopolitan city, With a population of Several hundred thousand people. The Capital of a Prosperous Country of over 20 million people.* With large public buildings, Churches, bath and wash houses, roads & sewers. The Equal of Rome or Constantinople. With a Firm Ally in the nation of Portus Amnis.
Sixty years earlier it had established a Colony on the Kongo river. The Traders on the River were pushing up the River in search of a lost Christian land supposably at the head waters.
Fifty years previously a ship had been blown by a storm far to the southwest, where he found new trading opportunities. When the Captain had returned from the unexpected voyage,
the Scholars had consulted their Libraries & found the Captains new Land, The ancient Celtic Island of Braxile. Now there were trading posts pushing north and west along the coast.
Hesperia Traded With the Muslims to the North, and they traded even farther north across the Great Sahara, To the great northern Trade cites of Tangeirs, Carthage, & Cairo. While there were occasional border or Religion disputes between the Muslim Empire of Mali and Hesperia, Porto Amnis, they were mild & Short. Nothing for The Traders to worry about. So Goods from Braxile & the Kongo flowed thru Hesperia, to the Mediterranean & Europe.
This peaceful life was about to change forever.
Far to the North the Barbarians of Norse land had left their Rocky Shores and were Seeking a better world, for Themselves & their Children. In the East the Rus were settling from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In the West they had settled from Ireland, thru Scotland, England, France, Spain, Sicily, And In Morocco. The centuries old trade Routes could have handled a Small war, or a new Settlement. They had done so before. But this brought forth some thing new.
When Hoald Svenson set out on his great raid in the 840's, he had instead found a great place for the Norse to settle. When he Died in 879, his son Eric Svenson Inherited a semi Feudal Kingdom, The Norse had Settled, married into the local population, and started rebuilding the Cities and the Defense works. While few of the original Norse converted, Many of the Children were Christians like their Mothers. And more were so in the third generation.
A small Declining Christian Country, on the point of sucumming to the Muslims, was one thing. A vigorous Growing Christian Community was something else entire. In 894 the Aghlabids in Maghrib, gathered a Army and marched south to put a end to the Problem. While the Muslims were great land Soldiers, the Aghlabids forgot that the Norse were Seamen. In 896 while the Caliph was busy in Morocco, A very large force of Norse, arrived from the north on their way to join the Fight, They found Tangeirs with most of it's Soldiers elsewhere. In 897 when the Caliph returned to his Capital, He was caught between the Norse in the City, and the Svezia Nova Army. By 950 the Svezia Nova Norse had control of all the Maghrib, from Tangeirs to Carthage.
To the Muslims, This was unacceptable. In the early 1000's Among the Muslims rose a Movement, Lead by Berber named Ibn Yasin, these Almoravid, or Soldiers of the Sword, Practicing a very strict form of Islam, declared Jihad, Within 25 years the Almoravids were in control of North Africa, and had pushed the Svezia Nova Forces back to Tangeirs. Hesperia's problem arose when they pushed south across the Sahara into the Senegal. There they encountered the Hesperian Church, for the First time. For the First time Hesperia encountered a Foe willing to Raise and Sustain large Armies in the Field. They weren't interested in Trade. The Almoravid Jihad, would attempt to destroy the Christian Abomination.
* In the mid 300's [OTL] the population of Both Rome & Byzantine was 25~30 million each, while the population of the Senegal was ~2 Million. if I start with 50,000 in 300 AD with 3 kids per family, I get a doubling every 2 generations [60 years]. this gives me 25~26 million by 900 AD. Making Hesperia equal to Rome or Byzantine at their peak. I assumed several disasters to slow this a little hence my 20 million.
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HESPERIA: Part Nineteen; Legions
When Hesperia was Young, the Natives around the trading posts were not always Friendly. Now and again a native Chief would decide it was easier to take, than to trade. And so Rome had sent Soldiers. As there were many fewer natives than say Britain or Germany, There had never been more than a Legion sent, [thro the settlers sometime included retiring legionaries] and it was spread out among the camps. As the Camps grew into towns, and then into Cities, The settlers had formed their own forces, Trained by the professionals, usually once a Week. The habit arose of Soldier Work on Saturday [usually road repair & building] with drill after Sunday Church, and all able bodied Men took part.
As Hesperia expanded along the Coast and up the rivers along the Coast, the new camps/towns continued this. By 400 Hesperia has a tradition of Citizen Legions With a few Professionals paid by the town. The withdraw of the 22 de Sud from Hesperia, didn't change things. When Hesperia conquered Ghana in the early 700's, It had been these Citizen Legions called up for service to the Republic, that did the job.
During the Years of Empire, a change had happened. While Citizen Legions were great for Defense, or a Short War along the Border, they were not the proper instrument to control a Empire. So Hesperia Raised ten all Proffesional Legions, from it's population of several million. The Scholars, researched the origination as established by the Great Augustus when He had reorganized the Legions in 10 BC. Even after the Song Hai, lead the Muslim revolt, and the Empire collapsed, Hesperia keep it's professionals.* By 900 as Hesperia expanded into the Guinea highlands, the Legions had grown to 30. And as the legions had Grown, they had become a political Force in Hesperia's Politics.
Realizing that part ,of the fall of the First Republic had been the reliance, on the professional Soldier, Hesperia also maintained the Citizen Legion as backup, thro all able bodied , was reduced all who join. In the established Cities, and towns the citizen legions became a hit or miss thing, with the Young men joining just because it was the Families Legion. And they were in effect a social, political Club. On the Borders, and Frontiers, thro the Citizen legions still were the backup Militia. When Hesperia sent Military advisors to Porto Amnis in 850, this is the organization they took with them. And this is what the Almoravids called Jihad on it the late 1000's.
* When the Ghana's revolted in 760, the legions found new jobs, as Marines, Dispatch Rider, Border Guard, etc.. They also did the Job the Original Legion did. Guarding new Trading Camps.
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HESPERIA: Part twenty; Cry Havoc
When Hoald Svenson founded the Kingdom of Nova Svezia in what remained of Roman Mauritania, He set in motion events that would return Hesperia into European affairs. The war that ensued over north Africa gave rise to Fundamental religionish movement among the Muslims. The Almoravids preached a strict Jurists Interpretation of the Koranic Laws,* And jihad against the Christians, who had conquered North Africa.
In 1039 The Almoravid leader Abdallah bni Yasin declares holy war against the Nova Svezians, within several years they had captured Carthage, and were working their way westward., By 1059 they control Maghrib [OTL Tunis & Algiers] and are preparing to Attacking Tangeirs & Nova Svezia. At the Same time they Cross over to Spain.
In 1049 The Almoravid leader Yusuf bni Tashufin sets over to Spain, and establishes himself in Cordoba. a year later in 1050, At the Battle of za-Zallaqa Yusuf lost the city of Toledo to the Christians. Yusuf returned to Maghreb, as he could not decide whether to conquer Spain or not, as the country was governed by weak Muslim rulers. By 1054 Yusef has made up his mind. Yusuf starts a policy of deposing the Muslim rulers, hence extending Almoravid control in Spain. He first has the leaders of Granada and Malaga removed from power.
and in 1059 The leaders of AlmerÃ*a and Seville are removed from power as well. this is Followed by Badajoz, & Valencia.
When the Almoravids captured Carthage they started down the trade routes. Taking over the Town and Cities as they came to them. By 1055 they arrive at Mali, which is attempting to put down a revolt by the Sonhai, Weakened by this civil war both sides surcome to the Almorvids. As such this Brings them into Contact for the first time with the Hesperians.
It takes some time for the Leadership of the Almoravids to realize that here is a Christian Kingdom, and at first the Hesperians are considered to be the Fabulous Prester John. Then a couple of the Almoravids Jurists get hold of a copy of the Hesperian Bible. After that there is no way that peaceful relations can be established. In 1059 The Almoravid leaders Abdallah & Yusuf declare Jihad on the Great Heretics.*
It is a undertaking that Military Historians and Military Logistics will study for the next thousand years, How the Almoravids transported 77,000 troops and all their Supplies, across 1600 miles of Desert to attack Hesperia. The Almoravids Charged in, Before realizing just what they were up Against, Thro Some of the Muslim traders tried to tell them.
If Hesperia had still been that strip of Land settled by traders back before the fall of Rome. Or even that Proto-Empire that had lost when Ghana rebelled in the early days of Islam. But no, this was Hesperia, Growing, Developing, Expanding, for close to 600 years. Roma Australis was the Capital of a Nation that stretched along the coast from north of the Senegal River south and east to just past the Volta River. with a Hinterland from 4~500 miles inland thru the Guinea Highlands. With a Population of 25 million, and a standing Army of fifty Legions. And if you add in it's ally of Portus Amnis, you got another two million citizens, and 10 legions.
Of Course, Not all was Hesperia's way. ten of those legions were elsewhere, Guarding trading posts south from Portus Amnis, to southern Africa. And in Braxile , stretching 8~900 north & south of the Amazon. Another ten were city Legions, More use to being Police than Soldiers, The rest while well trained hadn't seen real Combat, as the Muslim Sahel Kingdoms, had reached a understanding with Hesperia, close to 100 years before. This then is the situation on the eve of war.
* Remember that Abdul Assemi reworked and rewrote the Books of the Bible and included large parts of the Koran, into his Vision. The Muslims are acting the Same way the Christians Did, when Joseph Smith rewrote the Bible, to include The Book of Mormon. Imagine the Taliban/Al-Quada, reacting to the Vatican rewriting the Koran.
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HESPERIA; Part twenty one: Let Loose
When the Almoravids called Jihad on Hesperia in 1059, the Hesperians found themselves with a foe unlike any Hesperia had ever faced. The Original Malinke, Asante, and Dahomey Tribesmen, while not always peaceful, had succumbed to a combination of small battles and relentless long term population expansion of the part of the Hesperians. A Tactic that seemed to be working in the new settlement of Kongo, & Braxile.
In the 700's During Hesperia's brief fling with Empire, and Revolt, a combination of Citizen Legions, followed by Professional Legions, had been enuff to uphold Hesperia. As the Senegal Kingdoms had been more interested in perusing Trade, than War. Besides their Military's, were more like enlarged Tribal forces, than Armies.
However the Almoravids who conquered Mali in 1055, did it with professional soldiers. And the Army that they brought south in 1062, to Convert the Hesperians, Was a fully professional force of true believers. Uninterested in trade, and too {rite there} for the long term approach. The Hesperians would be tested Militarily like never before. The outcome would change the world.
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Hesperia: Part twenty two; The Dogs of War
When the Almoravids conquered Mali in 1055, they had sent a Army of 6,000 Soldiers. This along with the 77,000 they had brought to the Jihad, gave them a force of 83,000 men. This was opposed by 30,000 in Hesperia, and 10,000 in Portus Amnis. The Muslim plan involved Three thrusts. Starting in the Mali Capital of Tombouctou The Main Army of 48,000 would move down the Senegal River towards Roma Austrilus. The second force of 24,000 would travel down the Niger River towards Portus Amnis. The third consisting of 8,000 men would move to the coast and turn south to attack Hesperia from the north.
Of course all these preparations didn't go unnoticed by the Hesperians. The problem was in deciding how to respond. While the Legions marched out to defend the land, the Imperial Governor* & the Senate** wangled over what else should be done.
The first Battles didn't go very well for the Hesperians. Out numbered and inexpericed, The Hesperians made Mistakes. By 1063 the Hesperians were pushed back out of the highlands north of the Senagel River. Thousands of refugees had swarmed into Roma Australis, spreading panic, both in the streets and in the Senate. To the East on the Niger River, the Muslim Armies were enjoying equal sucess. the One bright Spot for the Hesperians was in the north.
Back in 538, During the Great plague Hesparia had abandoned it's northern most settlements. In the 500 years since the area had been left to the Outcasts & various groups of Neer-do-wells. this had lead to the region haveing a disordered Repertation [think wild wild west, here]. In fact the area had long almost settled down, but enjoyed having the Repertation. Of Couse as the northern most area of the nation, rite on the edge of the desert, they had the greastest contact with the Desert Berber Tribemen, & their Camels. And as these contact were not allways Peaceful, the Citizen Legions in the Area, were well able to handle Camel Calvery. this being one of the reasons for the defeats elsewhere.
When the 8,000 Alamoravid Muslims sweep out of the northern Desert, they were meet by 12 Legions, led by the Local General, Paul Aitradus. In a Battle that would be studied for years, like Hannibel at Cannedes. Paul's forces surrounded and anniliated the Almoravids, killing 7500, while losing only 450 men.
It was now that Paul Artrimedus made the decidision that lead to todays Hesperia. Instead of sending the legions back Home, Paul headed for Roma.
Mean while far to the South, unaware of the events back home, a trading party camped overnite in the shadow of a great Table shaped Mountain, before setting sail North on the East side of Africa.
* The Title of Imperial Governor had remained even thro the position was filled by elections in the Senate.
** The Senate consisted of four branches all meeting together, The Traders Council, The Guild Houses, & the Landowners. there were also a group of Others who had ended up with positions in the Senate, for various reasons. [ Milatary, Native Cheifs, & ambassadorial persons from Portus Amnis, The Kongo, & the Settlements, Ect. ]
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Hesperia: Part twenty three; The First law of War - Is Murphy's
Yes I read IT
I just posted everything I've written so far in Attemp 2, I'm working on version three but the REAL WORLD is throwing a Major road block , time wise.
I Have a Idea where I want this to go, But I'm poor at the Interactions. ie ?how much did the "exsistance" of a Major power like Byzanitine in the East Med influence the Decidsions the Franks made in the 8~900 AD? I know what they did, but what were they thinking ? Just how would a 950 Anglo Saxon Ruler react to a 360 foot long Trimarian , sailing up the Thames? Given that most Ships of the Day were 60~100 foot long. I'm able to plot actions. Its the "realistic" reaction I'm having trouble with.
The one line Comment about Crusades, [Which I hadn't thought about] Gave me the Jihad . I'm Not thinking about Hesperia "Conquering Europe, Hesperia's More like the British Empire [trade based] Give me a few more Comments about Europes Reaction to Hesperia's Discovery of Europe. I'll Think about them while working, and maybe be able to advance this.
Don't forget that much of Hesperia is in the tsetse fly zone and thus the nagana pest (a trypanosome disease) would kill all horses and camels.
I want to use this in Mosacic Earth, so a quick look at the years 1050~1950
this was my first and so far only attemp at a descriptive, vs my normal Chronological timelines.
1055
the Amolvids of north Africa declare Jihad on the Heritics in Hesperia
1056
The first of several army attacks Hesperia. some 80.000 Islamic Soldiers sweept across the Sahel, and deep into Herperia. The citizen legions are mostly just Socail Clubs, they prove totaly worthless, And are brushed aside. The best any one can say is that Most of the Dead had their Wounds in the Front.
1057
in the Northwest provice a young commander named Paul Artrimedus Manages to rally the Legions and defeat the Muslim.
Paul had been considered by most of the locals as a Gad-about, lazy young man, who liked to go play Officer. They should have looked at how seriouly He took the Play.
with 1.200 Romans he managed to defeat, a force of 7.200 Berbers. This got him put in charge of all the Provices Forces. he said Thanx to the Provinces senate, and took 3 of the 4 legions, and headed for Roma de Sud
1058
with 3.600 men Paul Artrimedus arrived at Romade Sud, having achieved several victories, over Raiding parties along the way.
He confidently strode into the Senate chamber and demanded to be put in Charge of Romes Defense. Looking at a string of defeats, with the Main Muslim Army only a week away. The Senate turned the Defense over to the only Commander with a string of Victories, he Imediatly left the city with every professional and the best of the Citizen Legionaires.
three days later Paul, with 12.000 men. Ambushes, Pockets, and Ammililates, the 48.000 Man Muslim Army.
[History will come to consider Paul Artrimedus as playing on same Level as Hanibel, Ceasear, Alexander, Belurusia.]
1064
Paul Artrimedus Has Pushed the Muslims north out of the Sahel. But as the Threat resides, so does the support for the Legions.
1066
Alarmed at how Hesperia, seems to drifting off to sleep again, and ignoring the Continued threat. Paul and his Army head for Rome, Ignoring the Senate's orders to stay out of the city, He leads his* Legions right up to the Senate, Where he Strides in to where the Governor General, is sitting. there on a shelf behind him is the Crown. It has sat there for 600 years, symbolizing the Inperial Throne that the Governor General, is suppose to represent. Flinging the Governaor General Aside,
Paul Artrimedus picks up the Crown, and turns and faces the Senate. Placing it on his head he declares "I AM CEASEAR"
With several dozen combat vetran Legioniares standing there, watching, no one in the Chamber raises a objection.
* In the same way you talk of Alexander's or Ceasear's Troops
1083
Several 350 foot Hesperian Battleships drop anchor in Genoa, and contact between the Southern Roman, and the Holy Roman Empire is establishlished.
Two Months latter More Ships reach Constantinople
1103
Carthage falls, the Hesperian Empire mow covers the entire Western Africa from
Tangeirs to Tripoli from the Gulf of Sidra to the Gulf of Guinea.
1108
Paul Artrimedus Dies, and his son John becomes Ceasear. Another Austugus was needed, what they got was Nero.
[Yes I knew the Historians claim he was way underrated, I'm talking popular Image here]
1110
First Cracks Show up with Tripoli being retaken by the Muslims.
over the next 700 years Tripoli will change hands some 84 times, before becoming a permanent part of the Eygptian Empire in 1823.
1150
the First Hesperian Empire Has Collasped, taking Hesperia with it. there is a centre of Power in Roma de Sud, and another in Portus Amnis, You had a third in Braxile, and a fourth in the Kongo.
out side Hesperia, You have the Kingdom of Nova Svezia in Tangeirs/Morocco, and the Kingdom of Tunisia. and in the Sahel in the Middle you have the Songhai.
But Herperia was found, it would not be lost again.
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over the next 700 years whe have the establishment of Vinland in the north to counter Braxile in the south. the Kingdom of Tunisia, attracting attention away from the Levant.
Nova Svezia leading the Reconquista into Spain.
No Fourth Crusade to Crash the Byzanitine Empire, but no great reform to prevent it's slow collaspe. by 1800 it controlled OTL Greece/Thrace/Cyprus/Crete, and both sides of the Agean Sea.
In the Horn of Africa, the Hesperian Church finds a second home, and after the King of Ethiopia converts in the 12 century, Ethiopia and Somilia join, and the second Axumite Empire is born, by 1800 it will control the African side of the Horn from Nubia to Mombassa.
in the nineteenth Century the great powers are Vinland, Braxile, Anglo/France, the HRE, Nova Svezia, Axum, Mughul Empire [on its last legs] China.
1814
Steam Engine invented
1816
first mechcanical Looms
1817
First mechinical Spinners.
1829
First ballon Accent
1893
first steam ships
Roma Austrilias Conquers/Unites the pieces of Hesperia [OTL Prussia/Germany]
pushes North to the Songhia empire, and Nova Sevezia, East to the Kingdom of the Kongo.
Begins Industrialization
1899
First railroad
1906
First railroad in Hesperia
1920
First iron clads
1939
GW 1 like a expanded Crimea War.
1979
First HTA flight
1990
GW 2 [ie WW I]
this was my first and so far only attemp at a descriptive, vs my normal Chronological timelines.
1055
the Amolvids of north Africa declare Jihad on the Heritics in Hesperia
1056
The first of several army attacks Hesperia. some 80.000 Islamic Soldiers sweept across the Sahel, and deep into Herperia. The citizen legions are mostly just Socail Clubs, they prove totaly worthless, And are brushed aside. The best any one can say is that Most of the Dead had their Wounds in the Front.
1057
in the Northwest provice a young commander named Paul Artrimedus Manages to rally the Legions and defeat the Muslim.
Paul had been considered by most of the locals as a Gad-about, lazy young man, who liked to go play Officer. They should have looked at how seriouly He took the Play.
with 1.200 Romans he managed to defeat, a force of 7.200 Berbers. This got him put in charge of all the Provices Forces. he said Thanx to the Provinces senate, and took 3 of the 4 legions, and headed for Roma de Sud
1058
with 3.600 men Paul Artrimedus arrived at Romade Sud, having achieved several victories, over Raiding parties along the way.
He confidently strode into the Senate chamber and demanded to be put in Charge of Romes Defense. Looking at a string of defeats, with the Main Muslim Army only a week away. The Senate turned the Defense over to the only Commander with a string of Victories, he Imediatly left the city with every professional and the best of the Citizen Legionaires.
three days later Paul, with 12.000 men. Ambushes, Pockets, and Ammililates, the 48.000 Man Muslim Army.
[History will come to consider Paul Artrimedus as playing on same Level as Hanibel, Ceasear, Alexander, Belurusia.]
1064
Paul Artrimedus Has Pushed the Muslims north out of the Sahel. But as the Threat resides, so does the support for the Legions.
1066
Alarmed at how Hesperia, seems to drifting off to sleep again, and ignoring the Continued threat. Paul and his Army head for Rome, Ignoring the Senate's orders to stay out of the city, He leads his* Legions right up to the Senate, Where he Strides in to where the Governor General, is sitting. there on a shelf behind him is the Crown. It has sat there for 600 years, symbolizing the Inperial Throne that the Governor General, is suppose to represent. Flinging the Governaor General Aside,
Paul Artrimedus picks up the Crown, and turns and faces the Senate. Placing it on his head he declares "I AM CEASEAR"
With several dozen combat vetran Legioniares standing there, watching, no one in the Chamber raises a objection.
* In the same way you talk of Alexander's or Ceasear's Troops
1083
Several 350 foot Hesperian Battleships drop anchor in Genoa, and contact between the Southern Roman, and the Holy Roman Empire is establishlished.
Two Months latter More Ships reach Constantinople
1103
Carthage falls, the Hesperian Empire mow covers the entire Western Africa from
Tangeirs to Tripoli from the Gulf of Sidra to the Gulf of Guinea.
1108
Paul Artrimedus Dies, and his son John becomes Ceasear. Another Austugus was needed, what they got was Nero.
[Yes I knew the Historians claim he was way underrated, I'm talking popular Image here]
1110
First Cracks Show up with Tripoli being retaken by the Muslims.
over the next 700 years Tripoli will change hands some 84 times, before becoming a permanent part of the Eygptian Empire in 1823.
1150
the First Hesperian Empire Has Collasped, taking Hesperia with it. there is a centre of Power in Roma de Sud, and another in Portus Amnis, You had a third in Braxile, and a fourth in the Kongo.
out side Hesperia, You have the Kingdom of Nova Svezia in Tangeirs/Morocco, and the Kingdom of Tunisia. and in the Sahel in the Middle you have the Songhai.
But Herperia was found, it would not be lost again.
==============
over the next 700 years whe have the establishment of Vinland in the north to counter Braxile in the south. the Kingdom of Tunisia, attracting attention away from the Levant.
Nova Svezia leading the Reconquista into Spain.
No Fourth Crusade to Crash the Byzanitine Empire, but no great reform to prevent it's slow collaspe. by 1800 it controlled OTL Greece/Thrace/Cyprus/Crete, and both sides of the Agean Sea.
In the Horn of Africa, the Hesperian Church finds a second home, and after the King of Ethiopia converts in the 12 century, Ethiopia and Somilia join, and the second Axumite Empire is born, by 1800 it will control the African side of the Horn from Nubia to Mombassa.
in the nineteenth Century the great powers are Vinland, Braxile, Anglo/France, the HRE, Nova Svezia, Axum, Mughul Empire [on its last legs] China.
1814
Steam Engine invented
1816
first mechcanical Looms
1817
First mechinical Spinners.
1829
First ballon Accent
1893
first steam ships
Roma Austrilias Conquers/Unites the pieces of Hesperia [OTL Prussia/Germany]
pushes North to the Songhia empire, and Nova Sevezia, East to the Kingdom of the Kongo.
Begins Industrialization
1899
First railroad
1906
First railroad in Hesperia
1920
First iron clads
1939
GW 1 like a expanded Crimea War.
1979
First HTA flight
1990
GW 2 [ie WW I]
