Contest 25: My Favorite Pastime (Monday, May 11th - Monday, May 25)[]
- Make a country form sooner (or later) than OTL.
- It could have a different government than OTL, but must take up the role of the OTL nation (ex. United Kingdom of America).
House of Stewart, Kings of America (Upvoteanthology)[]
The PoD is in the late-1500's, when the Roanoke colony survives and thrives. The English colonies become much more successful in the south, but leaves New England less settled (this leads to a lack of conflict with New Netherland). After the Stewart defeat in the British Civil War, they decided to flee to Plymouth, and attempted to unite the other formerly English colonies under their crown. However, after a failed invasion of New Netherland and counter invasion of England, much of the House of Stewart was exiled to Louisiana. The loyalist revolt that followed was put down by the "American Founding Organization", who wrote up a new constitution for the newly-independent "United States of America". The USA won its independence from English Monarchy in 1676, but wasn't strong enough to achieve anything large.
The loss of these colonies caused the British Commonwealth to lose the Seven Years' War, and the French kept and strengthened their colonies. New Netherland survived, due to good relations with England after they helped take out the Stewarts. While the USA managed to stay independent, it went under brief monarchist rule in the late-1700's, after England took the US in a violent war. This didn't last, however, and America threw off its chains again. New Sweden voluntarily joined the US in 1816, afraid that New Netherland would attack it soon enough. It had frequent bouts with Louisiana (it gained independence from France in 1846) over East Mississippi (OTL Indiana), but managed to keep good relations in the 20th century. It never came close to a world power, but has been in negotiations to merge with New England (they also want Hudson, but they aren't ready for a full-scale invasion of that nation just yet).
A Rejected Bride (LightningLynx89)[]
A Bride's Tears, and A Quick Turn Around
In 1858 the next heir to The Kingdom of Prussia, a 27-year old Frederick III, rejects the marriage proposal from the British Princess Victoria. With a broken heart and spiteful intent toward the Prussians wanting to formally create their proud German Empire, Queen Victoria begins to influence the Danish Kingdom's ruler Alexandra. When it came time for the Prussians to make their move on German lands currently under the control of the Danes. When the Prussians invaded they were surprised to be met by both combined Danish and British forces. The war ended in a matter of months the Prussians were forced to surrender and meet the British terms. The terms were quite strange and forced a marriage between Fredrick III and the woman he rejected, Princess Victoria. A strange request, but it would all fall under Britain's plan. As Bismarck was forced out by the nobility and high politicians for being beaten by the Brits and Danes, and saw this as their best chance to salvage their current situation. With Frederick III on the throne and with a great power, the now much more liberal politicians in power, and the now-crowned Queen Victoria by her husband's side, the Prussians became one of Great Britain's closest allies.
With Prussia claiming more and more land in Central Europe and an alliance formed with the British Empire in 1870, scared other European powers. Eventually the North German Empire was formed near the end of Frederick III's reign, those southern German kingdoms would remain under the protection of Austria until a vast and terrible war consumed Europe.
A Fierce War, and the Repercussions
A strong European alliance was formed from the foundation of the Anglo-German alliance, the Quadruple Alliance (QA). An alliance formed between the British Empire, North German Empire, Kingdom of Italy, and the Ottoman Empire; with an associated alliance with the Britain of Asia, the Empire of Japan. Meanwhile, opposite to the Quadruple Alliance was the Continental Alliance; Led by the French, Russians, and Austro-Hungarians. With a closely associated Chinese State to counter the QA's Japan. Eventually war broke out between the two sides. A long eight year bloody war, even dragging the now powerful USA onto the side of the QA thankfully, alleviating pressure on Germany and Italy; as both nations were sandwiched by the combined might of the Austro-Hungarians, French and Russians. Thank god that a majority of the Continental Alliances generals were incompetent and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into much smaller more nationalistic states.
British wars of Unification (Dreamcaster1)[]
Three Desires -Seiga[]
In this timeline, shortly after the First Opium War against the British, the Qing Dynasty decides to start industrialising to try and prevent another major incident. By the 1890s, China managed to fare decently against Japan, and though they lost Korea from their sphere of influence, they were able to keep Taiwan. Along with being stronger, the Chinese were able to remain more unified and resisted against any further European influence. The monarchy of the Qing managed to last slightly longer than OTL, though by 1916 the Qing Dynasty was dissolved and replaced by the Republic of China. The transition was more peaceful than OTL, and China managed to avoid falling into civil war. While there was a Communist rebellion, it was quickly crushed by 1929.
In the 1930s when Japan attempted to invade, the Chinese managed to fight back even more strongly and better than ever before, and by 1940 Japan decided to sue for peace and withdraw from the war. After war ended in Europe, the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan went to align with the US and its allies against the Soviet Union and their allies. With this, Communism was not able to gain a foothold in South East Asia and North Vietnam became crushed by South Vietnam.
After the Cold War, the Republic of China continues to have a growing economy and soon surpassed Japan as the second largest economy in 2012. It is predicted to become the world's largest economy as early as 2020.
The main characters of the Touhou Project are Seiga Kaku and Toyosatomimi no Miko.
2 Stronk 2 Ludicrous (Scraw)[]
In 937, Æthelstan is killed by a stray arrow at Brunanburh. Soon after his death, the sons of Edward the Elder begin fighting each other for the title King of the Anglo-Saxons. These struggles, combined with Danish attackers results in a dis-unified England. A situation similar to the Heptarchy soon arises in Britain and it remains an island of chaos for centuries. In 1066, the leader of the Normans, William (the Conqueror in OTL) crosses the Channel and invades Wessex. His lands later evolve into the Kingdom of Wessex and Normandy. William's successors conquer the Kingdoms of Essex and Kent and East Anglia but find themselves constantly at war with Mercia. In the 1300s, Normandy allies with Northumberland against Mercia after the Normans back the Percys for Kings of Northumberland. They expand rapidly into Mercia, but Norman expansion is halted by a succession crisis. After the death of Richard II of Normandy, several claimants to the throne arise. One is Henry IV of Northumberland, descended from Lionel of Antwerp, second son of Edward III of Normandy. Another is his cousin, Richard of York and a duke in Northumberland. The last claimant is Henry of Kent (OTL Henry IV), cousin to Richard II. Initially, Richard of York supports Henry of Northumberland in the campaign into Norman Mercia. After the Percy victory, the Somersets flee across the channel into Normandy. Henry of Northumberland names himself King of the English. Backed by the King of France, Henry of Kent returns and takes back control of southern England. Henry I dies and is succeeded by his son Henry, but he is weak and ineffective. Henry of Kent brings Wales into the conflict through his Tudor cousins. Edward of York, son of Richard, betrays Henry II Percy and names himself king. Fighting continues for a number of years until the Kents are exiled to France and the Yorks become the kings. However, the Kingdom of the English is thrown to war again after he dies. His brother Edmund accuses Edward's children of being unable to rule due to Edward's marriage being invalid. His other brother George declares himself king for the sake of being the king. George defeats Edmund at Malmesbury, but their other brother Richard (Richard III) takes up Edmund's claim and tries to overthrow George. However, before he can act, the Kents return from exile in France and seize Normandy before moving on England and killing George at Kingston. The new Henry III Kent faces opposition from York loyalists and even those who support the Percys. Henry III dies and is succeeded by his son Edward III. Edward III eliminates the Yorkist claimant, Edward Plantagenet (son of George I). However, Edward III fails to hold the throne and is replaced by Henry IV Percy.
While England united under the Percys, Alba fought its own wars against Pictland and Strathclyde. Also, France was facing problems from Burgundy, which was supported by France's enemies in the Holy Roman Empire. As France grew weaker, the Germans grew stronger. Eventually, a united German state was created while France became divided into smaller nations. England tried to conquer Wales but failed due to Wales being supported by Scotland. England and Scotland also both tried to conquer Ireland, but England prevailed over Scotland.
Stuff continued to happen until the Europeans discovered the New World. Colonization of the Americas (called Borealia and Amazonia) was led by Spain, France, Burgundy, and Portugal. The Netherlands, Sweden, England, Scotland, and Granada also had colonies there, but less so. France colonized the most in Borealia, with colonies such as New France, Louisiana, and later Borealia. The Netherlands had New Netherland, Scotland had Nova Scotia, Sweden had New Sweden, and England had Georgia? Spain had most of its OTL colonies, with the exception of New Burgundy (Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba). Most of the west remained under European control until the Napoleonic Wars and New Spain revolted against Spain. New Spain (i.e., north of Panama) became one nation, while the lands south of Panama broke into seven nations (Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay). Later, the core parts of New France (Upper and Lower Canada) revolted against France, soon followed by Louisiana. France maintained its control over the rest of New France, renaming it Borealia. France later purchased Alaska from Russia, and gave Borealia independence as the Dominion of Borealia. New Spain began to collapse around the same time, with Texas and South Borealia (Central America) gaining independence.
Around the same time, England conquered Wales. In the 1850s, with the death of King Duncan V of Scotland, Queen Mary II of England became queen of Scotland as well, leading to the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Stuff continued to happen. The Netherlands colonized Van Diemen's Land, but Great Britain claimed the rest of the continent. As Britain could not colonize India, the subcontinent was divided between the Mughals and the Marathas, as well as small parts controlled by France, Burgundy and Portugal.
In the early 20th century, the Great War (World War I) broke out, with Britain, Prussia, and Burgundy (the Allies) against France, Russia, and Austria (the Entente). The war was a victory for the Entente, but several nations collapsed as a result of it. The Austro-Hungarian Empire broke up not long after the war into several smaller states that went to war with each other. Britain and Prussia were stripped of their colonial empires, but Burgundy kept control of most of its major colonies. In Borealia, Russia granted independence to Novorossiya. As a result of their loss in the war, the British monarchy was overthrown in a bloody six year conflict known as the *really cool name for a war here*. The royal family fled to Georgia? where they would remain for the next ten years. In Prussia, the existing government remained intact, but the Communists came to power and took control of the Reichstag. And in Greece, there was a revolution that led to the rise of a right-wing dictatorship. Greece and Britain formed an unlikely alliance that later came to include Germany by virtue of having common enemies. In 1937, Britain invaded Ireland, whose neutrality was defended by France, Russia, and the Netherlands, as the victors of the previous war. France declared war on Britain, which led to Greece declaring war on France. Russia and Yugoslavia declared war on Greece, which led to Bulgaria and Romania declaring war on Russia and Yugoslavia. Germany later invaded the Russian protectorate of Poland, which technically placed Germany on the side of Britain and Greece.
In Asia, Manchuria and Japan found themselves at war. Japan attempted to conquer China as well as Manchurian Korea. Manchuria and China allied against Japan, but China was already weakened by its ongoing civil war, and Manchuria's military technology was extremely outdated. Manchuria did not have the industrial capacity to fight a long war with Japan, and so turned to Russia for aid. Russia, due to the war in Europe, could not help them. Japan rapidly expanded into the Asian mainland and the Pacific, and soon began attacking European colonies in the region. Japan attacked French Indochina in 1939 and allied itself with Britain, Germany and Greece against France. This led to Dutch involvement against Japan in the East Indies.
In Borealia, Georgia? and Borealia were the first to support the Allies. However, Louisiana and Mexico signed a pact with the British and the Germans that began the war in the far west. In 1939, Mexico invaded Texas and Novorossiya with Louisianan aid. Borealia declared war against them in defense of Novorossiya, but suffered great losses in the west. Borealia gained an opening when Louisiana invaded Georgia? and was able to strike back against occupying forces from Louisiana and Mexico. In 1941, Nova Scotia declared its support for Borealia but did little to help other than send a small amount of men and resources. The war in Borealia was mostly a deadlock until Louisiana reached the capital of Georgia?, Albion. This gave them direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. Later that year, New Netherland ceased giving aid to the Allied nations. Louisiana coordinated an attack on the New Netherland naval base in Bermuda. This led to New Netherland and later Canada joining the war. The war in Borealia lasted two years after that, and Mexico, Louisiana, and their allies were defeated. Mexico officially surrendered on June 16, 1943, also known as V-B Day.
The war in Europe ended a few months after the war in Borealia. Canada, Nova Scotia, Borealia, and New Netherland and Georgia? led a massive two-pronged assault on Britain and Normandy simultaneously. Scottish insurgents were armed against the British government in order to weaken Britain at home, while Normandy was used as a base from which to retake France, Burgundy, and then later move on Prussia. While the western Entente liberated Allied-controlled territories, Russia managed to end the Allied offensive in Eastern Europe and seize Berlin on 29 April 1944 (V-E Day). The war in Asia lasted another three months and ended on 7 July 1944 after Japan unconditionally surrendered following the atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
World War II led to the creation of several new nations, an intergovernmental cooperation organization, and the start of decolonization. Two major power blocs also emerged from the dust: the Russian bloc (Russia) and the Borealian bloc (Borealia and New Netherland). The state of tension between these two blocs marked the beginning of what is now called the Cold War. Proxy wars were fought between these blocs in southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinents. The Russian bloc led the arms race, while the Borealian bloc had an advantage over their competitors in technology and other related things.
However, World War II left Britain in ruins. At the end of the war, the British government-in-exile returned to Britain, and Britain was a whole nation. However, the Entente had been backing the Scottish independence movements during the war. No Scottish nation was created after the war, so the Scottish insurgency continued. In the 1950s, Britain was plagued by a civil war that led to the rise of an unstable military dictatorship in England and a quasi-independent Scotland. Scotland was brought back into the fold by force in the 60s, but a full revolution started again in 1976. Scotland officially gained independence in 1979 after a bloody, devastating war. The dictatorship in England collapsed and led to a five year period of anarchy where England was divided between kings, presidents and warlords alike. In the early 90s, both sides of the Cold War decided to back the King of Normandy, Robert II. Robert was the nearest cousin of the last British monarch, Queen Victoria II and many believed him to the rightful king. With foreign support, Robert managed to reunite England in two years and became the King of England and Normandy in 1997.
The Cold War continues into the present day. However, in the last 20 years or so, the two sides have generally stopped being extra hostile toward each other. Peace accords have been signed, as well as nuclear proliferation treaties and other peacekeeping measures. The Cold War is mostly an economic war between the two sides, although other nations are rising in power, such as Mexico, Brazil and Japan.
#NoMoreWikiaChanges
United Sagamore of America (Fallacy)[]
The PoD is in the late 15th century, when the Huron joins the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee). The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, with full control over the Great Lakes region, arguably one of the most prosperous American region in Pre-Columbian America, was able to exert influence towards North Eastern America. In the following 16th century, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy was able to defeat and capitulate the Algonquian tribes, expanding its influence and territory to the Northeast American Coast, Ohio and Potomac rivers, the Ottawa and St Lawrence River and White Mountains. However, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy still existed as a loose Confederation of Tribes. The centralization of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy occurred after the beginning of minor European colonization. The spread of smallpox to the Americas greatly decreased the population of the Confederacy, forcing them to band even closer together.
In the 17th century, as European colonization of North America began, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, now much more centralized than OTL, began reforming their government with the model of Holland and England, who has established colonies in Nieuwe Friesland (OTL Nova Scotia) and Newfoundland, respectively. Moreover, England began colonizing Virginia and established trade and other connections with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Despite English interests in attacking the Confederacy, they refrained due to European interests and wars.
In response to the European arrival, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy established a unique form of government, where the head of the Confederacy is elected from the chiefs of each tribe by all Haudenosaunee citizen past the age of 16 and their coming of age rites. The chief in turn was elected in an inter-tribal election. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy begin to adopt Western technology, trading guns, glass beads and other foreign products for animal skins. With the beginning of contact and trade with the Europeans, and the import of metal weapons and tools, the demand for metal objects increased. Thus, a new profession began to grow in the League society: metalworking.
As the first chief of the reformed Confederacy, now named the Haudenosaunee League, Sa No Wa Keath decided, after witnessing a devastating colonial conflict in his childhood, decided that the European colonizers would become a threat to the League. He decided that Western technology, weaponry and society must be adopted to expand the strength of the League. Under his appointment, a council of elders created the written Haudenosaunee language, similar to the Cherokee language in OTL. Meanwhile, European gunsmiths and metalworkers were hired from the colonies. Despite many failures, some efforts succeeded and the most notable one being the League's employment of the gunsmith Anthony Bowen from a British colony in Virginia. Bowen went on to become one of the most celebrated figure in Haudenosaunee history. Under Bowen and the many metalworker's training and teachings, the Haudesaunee metalworkers experienced a rapid technological advancement. In just 15 years, mining operations, especially for the rich copper and iron mines in the Great Lakes Area (Lake Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior is called Lake Onondaga, Erie (absorbed in 1498), Huron, Ottawa (conquered by the Huron-Wyandot), Mamaceqtaw (absorbed in 1524) in this TL). Metal tools, such as bow and arrow, hammers, chisels, shovels and farming equipment, such as scythes and hoes also started to become much more common. These farming equipment also made sustenance farming possible, and led to a population boom. In 1624, the Haudenosaunee League attacked the territory east and north to it (OTL Illinois, Ontario and Great Lakes Region).
With a centralized military, the League crushed the native tribes in OTL Illinois, Indiana, Great Lakes Region and Delaware, as well as the Ojibwe. The League also attacked the Cree tribes of Moose Cree and Eastern Cree for their fur hunting grounds. Despite the tribes of these regions forming a league, they were not able to defend themselves against the Haudenosaunee. The most decisive engagement came when 3000 Haudenosaunee men were attacked by 10,000 enemy forces. The Haudenosaunee use metal weapons and the first use of firearms by Native Americans (only ten arquebuses, mostly for shock purpose) managed to overcome their numerical disadvantage and overwhelm the enemy. After breaking the enemy's center, they routed and the Haudenosaunee pursued, slaughtering most of the other tribes. At the end of the war, the Haudenosaunee League has expanded greatly in size and now includes 27 tribes, including the Shawnee (absorbed in 1567), Mamaceqtaw (absorbed in 1524), Erie (absorbed in 1498), Potawatomi (absorbed in 1513), Powhatan (absorbed in 1624), Ojibwe (absorbed in 1628) tribes.
Meanwhile in Europe, rather than colonizing Boston, England intensified their efforts in colonizing OTL Virginia and Georgia. The settlements of Norfolk, Savannah and Charleston were constructed and Norfolk, in particular, thanks to its large natural harbor, became the center of English Colonization in OTL Southern USA. The English colonial divisions were also set up, with Virginia, Carolinas and Olivia (named after Oliver Cromwell). The Dutch Republic began expanding its colony in Nieuwe Friesland into OTL New Brunswick, which was named Nieuwe Flevoland. The proximity of Dutch colonies and Newfoundland led to a start of trade conflicts, which would later exacerbate into the first Anglo-Dutch War. France, on the other hand, was concentrated on expansion efforts in Quebec. In the early 17th Century, France established several forts down the St Lawrence River, but stopped when they encountered the Haudenosaunee. However, this began exacerbating French and League tensions.
The League continued their efforts of improving technology during the time with the first schools and Indian cities being established in the capital of the Haudenosaunee League - OTL Toronto.
Voting for "My Favorite Pastime"[]
House of Stewart, Kings of America (Upvoteanthology)[]
A Rejected Bride (LightningLynx89)[]
British wars of Unification (Dreamcaster1)[]
Three Desires -Seiga[]
2 Stronk 2 Ludicrous (Scraw)[]
Consul Ioshua (Talk)
04:04, June 1, 2015 (UTC)
United Sagamore of America (Fallacy)[]
