The Affair of the Diamond Necklace - Marie Antoinette - Extra History
Added 2020-07-24 17:30:01 +0000 UTCIt's been a while since we've had a good heist story.
Comments
I appreciate your love of history, and I don't want this to come off as antagonistic, but these really long comments make it difficult to scroll through the post feed. Can I suggest that you make your initial comment, and then include the history as a reply to yourself? That way it starts out collapsed.
Foxdoc
2020-07-24 20:30:09 +0000 UTCThe Three Musketeers really should've been referenced in here somewhere...either that or I've played more Europa Universalis IV than is good for me. 76 BC In the Japanese Empire, the new Japanese Emperor Sujin, who had taken Power after the Death of Emperor Koizumi, takes the Position of Attacking the Chinese from a new Angle. The Malays are a Group of Imperialistic Dreamers on the Island of Sumatra who had Originally Migrated down from Cambodia in Southeastern Asia. As soon as the Japanese have Occupied the Loosely Populated Philippine Islands, they start to Fund the Malays in their Attempts to Expand to the rest of Indonesia and South East Asia. In Exchange, the Japanese will Remain in a Sacrosanct Alliance and the Malays will never Enter into an Alliance with China. In the Sri Vijayan Empire, once the whole of Sumatra, with its heavy Trade Connections, has been Occupied, the new Leader of the Malays, Jayanasa, Declares himself the “Mahārāja” [“Great King” or “Emperor”] of a new Empire, and the Malays Announce their Intention to take the other Islands. The Sanskrit “Sri,” Meaning “Fortunate” or “Prosperous,” and “Vijaya,” Meaning “Victorious,” comes to be the Name of the new “Sri Vijayan Empire.” 50 AD In the Principality of Samoa, a Samoan Crew Exploring the Marquesas Islands Discover Mesoamerican Castaways who Introduce a Suite of Mesoamerican Plants to Oceania: Sweet Potatoes, Cassava, Squash, Beans, Maize, and Chili. These Plants are all brought Back to Samoa where they Cause an Agricultural Revolution that Diversifies not only the Polynesian Diet but also Produce a huge Ammount of Calories for far less Labour than the Traditional Crop Package of Taro and Yam. The Resulting Growth in the Population, and Free Time, Encourages the Polynesian Tradition of Exploratory Voyages which, in Turn, Speeds up the Polynesian Expansion. 90 AD In the Chinese Empire, the Monsoon, a Series of Winds that bring in Moist Clouds which Drench the Areas of India and Southeast Asia in Rain during the Summer do not Arrive in Southeast Asia and the Peoples of Cambodia and China fall into Famine. 700 In the Middle East, a Period of Relative Peace begins as the Umayyad Caliphs, now Based in Damascus, Consolidate their new Lands. In the Conquered Regions, Non ~ Muslims are Treated somewhat Leniently, being Allowed to continue and Practice their Own Religions as long as they Pay a Special Tax. Most People in the Conquered Regions Convert to Islam rather than Pay the Tax. The Jews in Israel Province are a Major Exception, however, and there are other Groups Scattered throughout the Caliphate that do not Convert. [Christians and Zoroastrians Living in Mesopotamia and Persia, for Example.] 740 The Umayyad Caliphate Invades the Indian Subcontinent. 780 By this Time, the Umayyad Caliphate has Overrun Northern India, Pushing its Borders to the Line of the Jaxartes River, the Hindu Kush Mountains, and the Himalayas. This will Mark the Furthest Point of Islamic Expansion Eastwards, as the Formidable Terrain Barriers in the South, as well as the Fierce Nomadic Tribes of the North Halt the Arabian Drive Eastwards. 800 In the Pacific Ocean, the Booming Population of Polynesia have by now Reached the farthest Edges of the “Polynesian Triangle,” ~ New Zealand and Easter Island. These will Represent the Eastern and Western Limits of the Polynesian Range. Although a few Explorers will Venture out beyond these Islands, no Permanent Polynesian Settlements will Survive outside of the Triangular Borders they will Mark with Hawai’i. The Lapitan Polynesians, for Example, are Driven from their Homeland after the Native Lapitans lose too many of their Taro Harvest to the Pigs and Band together to Repulse the Foreigners. The Polynesians Move West until they find a new Land: Alawaland [OTL Australia] They Land in the Subtropical Coast, taking over Seasonally Uninhabited Land where the Lapita Hope they will be Safe. In the Kingdom of Keita, Ironically, the Polynesians themselves Literally Seeded the Acceptance of Pigs into the Keitan Landscape before they Left. Their Cassavas are now Established on the Island, and over the next few Centuries, they will Edge out Taro as the Crop of choice. The Fact that Cassava is much less Labour Intensive than the Taro means that, once it becomes a Staple Crop, the Lapita saw Pigs as a much better Investment. It would be much Easier to Create an Excess Harvest to Feed them, and if the Pigs Destroy a Cassava Patch, then it is not too much Effort to Grow more. In the Khmer Empire, a Mass Migration of Indian Hindus and Buddhists to the Myriad of Hindu Kingdoms and the Islands of the Sri Vijayan Archipelago in Southeast Asia Occurs in the Aftermath of the Umayyad Caliphate’s Invasion of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism had been Introduced Centuries ago, so these People are Absorbed by the Various Kingdoms and Island Nations of the Region with no Major Disruption of the Historical Developments that happened there OTL. The Main Difference is that, Strengthened by Millennia of Egyptian and Chinese Trade, and this boost in Population, the Hindu Kingdoms there will be Able to better Resist Muslim Encroachment and Islam will never Gain a Foothold in the Region. 1204 13th April In the Byzantine Empire, with nothing left to lose, the Crusaders Assault Constantinople itself, Burning and Plundering the City for Three Days. Forces from Venice Rip the Famous Bronze Horses from the Hippodrome and Carry them Back to Venice to Adorn the Façade of Saint Mark’s Basilica. Even the Tombs of the Emperors Resting in the Church of The Holy Apostles are Systematically Plundered by the Crusader Army, and the very Altars of the Churches are Smashed and torn to Pieces for their Gold and Marble by the Warriors. The Civilian Population of Constantinople are also Subject to the Crusaders’ Ruthless Lust for Spoils and Glory; Thousands are Killed in cold Blood, and Women, Including Nuns, are Raped by the Crusader Army. Basileus Alexios V Doukas, Accompanied by Basilissa Eudokia Angelina and her Family, Flee the City and Escape to Mosynopolis on Board a Fishing Boat. 1208 25th September In the Papal Kingdom, in a Grand Announcement, Pope-King Heraclius II Declares another Crusade against the Abbasid Caliphate. The Christian Lords are Gathering from all across Europe to bring the Abbasid Caliphate into the Fold of the Christian Kingdoms and out of the Infidel Lands. The Abbasid Caliphate has long been under the Tyrannical Rule of the Islamic Infidel Al-Nasir, but with the upcoming Christian Onslaught, it is only a Matter of Time before he will Fall. God will Grant a Remission of Sin to anyone Participating in this Righteous War. 1213 In the Sri Vijayan Empire, a Nation highly Dependent on International Trade Wealth, is not Able to send its Ships through the Red Sea or the newly re ~ opened Suez Canal that lets Boats continue to the Mediterranean Sea and, hence, to Europe. The Non ~ stop Wars between the Powers in that Region have deeply Hurt the International Trade Situation, which had Flourished before the Break up of China. It is because of this Situation and its bad Effects for Sri Vijaya that Sri Vijaya begins to send out Missions of Exploration to try and Discover an Alternative Route to Europe. In the Kingdom of Madagascar, the Sri Vijayan Explorers come upon Madagascar, Landing in the Northernmost State of Antsiranana, which has Fallen on Hard Times since the Collapse of the Kingdom. The Legacy of the Satavahana can be seen in the Crumbling Buildings and in the large Ports which are now Shadows of their Former Selves. In Antsiranana, a Growing Alliance of Northern City-States has Provided some Semblance of Law and Order, and Minimal Trade with each other, but the Jungles have made the Central Portion of the Island difficult to Navigate since they have taken the Roads again. On Board the Ship is a Native Barito Speaker from Borneo. This Man, upon Hearing the Natives of Madagascar, is Able to Understand most of what they say. This Discovery Facilitates Communication and Instantly brings the Two Disparate Communities together, and the Sri Vijayans Learn of the Satavahana Kingdom’s Fate. When the Sri Vijayans Ask King Andry of Antsiranana if the City-States of Madagascar would like to become a Sri Vijayan Colony, King Andry of Antsiranana Speaks of the Fiercely Independent Spirit of many of the Leaders of Madagascar, who will React Violently if the Seek to change the Government and Remove the Leaders, but otherwise King Andry Believes that most of the City-States will Invite the Sri Vijayans since they are Known to be Wealthy and have a Strong Trading Network. 1235 In the Emirate of Granada, Sri Vijayan Sailors Sail Right around the West Coast of Africa and Enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar. Sri Vijaya starts a strong Trading Relationship with Portugal, France, and Norman England, among other European Kingdoms. 1400 By this Time, the Chinese Empire has been Extending its Power out to Sea for the last 300 Years. To Satisfy ever Growing Demand for special Spices, Medicinal Herbs, and Raw Materials, Chinese Merchants have Developed a Rich Trading Network Extending from the Islands of Southeast Asia to the Fringes of the Indian Ocean. Yet, Despite the Fact that their Ships have been Trading in the same Region for Several Centuries, Egypt and China have had no Direct Contact. No Egyptian Ship has Travelled as far as China, and no Chinese Ship has Paid a call on an Egyptian Port. This is about to change. By the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, China has reached a Peak of Naval Technology Unsurpassed [at least for now] anywhere in the World. Using many Technologies of Chinese Invention, Chinese Shipwrights have also Combined Technologies they have Borrowed and Adapted from the Seafarers of Sri Vijaya and Japan. Advances such as Double ~ Hulled Ships Divided into Separate Watertight Compartments, the Sternpost Rudder, Lanteen Sails, and the Magnetic Compass, have Combined to Produce Ships far Superior to anything in Europe or Asia. Both the Song Dynasty, and their Successor, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Encouraged Commercial Activity and Maritime Trade, so the Succeding Ming Dynasty Inherits large Shipyards, many Skilled Shipwrights, and Finely Tuned Naval Technology from the Dynasty that Preceded it. 1403 In the Chinese Empire, the new Ming Emperor, Huangdi Zhu Di, Known to History as the Yongle Emperor, wanting to Impress China’s Power upon the World, as well as Show off China’s Resources and Importance, Orders the Construction of Special “Treasure Ships,” Ships over 400 Foot long, 160 Foot wide, with Nine Masts, Twelve Sails, and Four Decks, each large enough to Carry 2,500 Tons of Cargo, each Armed with Dozens of small Cannons. Accompanying those Ships will be Hundreds of smaller Vessels, some Filled only with Water, others carrying Troops, or Horses, or Cannons, still others with Gifts of Silk and Brocades, Porcelain, Lacquerware, Tea, and Ironworks that will Impress the Rulers of far ~ Flung Civilizations. The Yongle Emperor Selects Zheng He, a Muslim Eunuch, to Command this Fleet of Exploration. 1405 11th July In the Vijayanagara Empire, Admiral Zheng He’s Treasure Fleet of 317 Ships stops in Champa, the Khmer Empire, and then on to the Islands of Sri Vijaya, to Points along the Strait of Malacca before Proceeding to its Main Destination of Kozhikode, in the Empire of Vijayanagara in Southern India. 1407 In the Vijayanagara Empire, Admiral Zheng He takes 68 Ships to the Court of Vijayanagara to Attend the Coronation of a new King. 1409 In the Kingdom of Sri Lanka, Admiral Zheng He takes the Ming Chinese Treasure Fleet, with 48 large Ships and 30,000 Troops, Visiting many of the same Sites as well as Malacca City on the Malay Peninsula and the Kingdom of Sri Lanka. 1413 In the Persian Empire, Admiral Zheng He takes the Ming Chinese Treasure Fleet of 63 Ships and over 28,000 Men to many of the same Sites as well as the Strait of Hormuz on the Persian Gulf. 1417 In the Egyptian Empire, Admiral Zheng He takes the Ming Chinese Treasure Fleet further than ever before, First to the Port of Aden along the Red Sea and then on to the East Coast of Africa, stopping off in the Egyptian Port City of Mogadishu, Puntland. Egyptian Officials Invite Zheng He to Visit the Pharaoh in his Capital City at Sais, and Zheng He Accepts. 1420 In the Egyptian Empire, Admiral Zheng He and the Ming Chinese Treasure Fleet Sail through the Suez Canal and into the River Nile, Arriving in Sais. He is very Interested to Discover that Egypt Boasts a far older than that of his Own Empire, a Fact that is Reinforced after Pharaoh Psamtik XVI takes the Chinese Admiral for a Tour down the River Nile on the Royal Barge, Showing him the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Ruined Temple Complexes at Karnak and Abu Simbel, among other things, all of which Impress him Mightily. The Pharaoh, for his Part, is Impressed with the huge Chinese Ships and Especially with the large Number of fine Porcelain and Silks that Zheng He’s Fleet have brought with them. Both Items have been Available for Centuries in Limited Numbers, via Trade with Chinese Merchants in India, or via a Dangerous Overland Route Known as “the Silk Road,” but now the Dazzling Opportunity for large ~ Scale Import Presents itself, and the Pharaoh is very Desirous of Establishing Formal Relations, Including Trade. Therefore, when Zheng He Returns to China, he brings with him an Ambassador from Egypt. It will be the beginning of a long and Mutually Profitable Relationship between the Two Powers. 1450 In the Sri Vijayan Empire, the Great Age of Sri Vijayan Sailing is Drawing to its Close. The larger Populations that the American Crops have Created have Caused a Shortage of Wood in some Places. As a Direct Consequence of Building the Great Chinese ~ Style Junks that the Sri Vijayans need for Travelling the Oceans is often seen as a Waste of Resources. The Sri Vijayans have Sailed as far as is Humanly Possible with the Technology they Currently have, and the Islands of their Archipelago are well Populated. There is no more Virgin Land for them to Sail and Trade over Thousands of Miles for Tools and Slaves is just not Worth it. Sri Vijaya itself Remains an Ocean ~ going Empire and continue to Sail for vast Distances ~ Persian Shahs still Dine on Sri Vijayan Cuisine, Arabian Women still Regularly Scent themselves with Sri Vijayan Perfumes, and European Kings are still Prepared to Pay Jaw ~ Dropping Prices for the latest Oriental Fashions [much to the Disgust of the Religious Authorities] but these Voyages are now the Exception rather than a way of Life. 1519 20th September In the Kingdom of Spain, the Portuguese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan sets Sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Southern Spain, with Five Ships and 270 Men, most of whom are from Spain, to find a Western Route to the Maluku Islands in Sri Vijaya and Trade for Spices. 1728 In the Russian Empire, Russian Explorer Vitus Bering Discover the Bering Strait, which he Names the Strait of Saint Nicholas. 1773 17th January In the Antarctic Ocean, the British Explorer and Cartographer Captain James Cook, on Board HMS Resolution, becomes the First European to Cross the Antarctic Circle. They Sail within 120 km of the Antarctic Coastline before being Forced to turn Back by Ice Sheets. 11th August In the Pacific Ocean, the British Explorer and Cartographer Captain James Cook, on Board HMS Resolution, Lands on Tekokota, which he Names Doubtful Island. 12th August In the Pacific Ocean, the British Explorer and Cartographer Captain James Cook Discovers Marutea Nord, which he Names Furneaux Island. 1789 28th April In the Kingdom of Tonga, about 30 Nautical Miles South of the Pacific Island of Tofua, Acting Lieutenant Fletcher Christian and 18 Mutineers Seize Control of the British Royal Navy Ship HMS Bounty from their Captain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and Cast him Adrift in the Bounty’s Longboat with 18 of the 22 Sailors still Loyal to him. 24th July In the Sri Vijayan Empire, Survivors from the Mutiny on the HMS Bounty, Including Captain William Bligh and 18 others, Arrive at the Island of Timor after a nearly 4,000 Mile Journey in an open Boat. 1820 In the Japanese Empire, Recognising that he has no other Choice if Japan is to Remain Free of the European Powers, Shōgun Mōri Naritō very Reluctantly Orders a Belated Programme of Industrialisation and Westernisation to Secure its Extensive Coastline. 1850 12th December The Japanese Empire Declares itself to be at War against the Kingdom of France with the Hope of Capturing the French Loaisa Islands. 1852 31st March In the Japanese Empire, the Treaty of Peace and Amity is Signed in the City of Yokohama, Kanagawa Province, by Representatives of the Japanese Empire, the Kingdom of France, and the United Kingdoms of The Netherlands. Under the Terms of the Treaty, Japan will Hand the French Loaisa Islands Back to France, the Japanese Cities of Shimoda, Izu Province, and Hakodate, Hokkaido, will be Opened up to European Merchants, who will be Granted Complete Freedom of Movement by the Japanese Government. A French Consulate will be Built in Shimoda, Izu Province, and France will hold a Monopoly on all European Trade with Japan. The Japanese Islands of Okinawa will be Occupied by Luxembourgoise Troops for a Period of 20 Years to make sure Japan keeps to its Half of the Bargain. 1888 23rd July In the Korean Empire, a Rumour starts to Spread among the Korean Peasantry that American Missionaries are Stealing Babies and Boiling them down in Order to Produce the Chemicals needed for Photographic Plates. Anti-Foreigner Riots Engulf many of Korea’s Cities, while, out in the Countryside, the Focus quickly Shifts to Targeting Landowners, Civil Servants, and the Army. At First, Local Troops are used to Quell the Uprising, but, as the Fighting Spreads, Empress Myeongseong very Reluctantly Authorises the Secret Deployment of the Chinese Soldiers already in the Country. 1st August In the Japanese Empire, News of the use of Units from the Chinese Army soon Reach the Ears of the Pro ~ Japanese Korean Revolutionary, Kim Ok-gyun, who has been Living in Exile in Tokyo ever since his Coup Attempt in 1884, and Maintains many Contacts among Reformers in his Home Country. Kim, Realising the Implications of the Deployment, quickly Passes the Information on to his Japanese Allies. The Japanese Accuse the Chinese of Violating the Convention of Tianjin and Announce that they will send their Own Expeditionary Force. By this Point, a War between Japan and China is Inevitable. 5th September In the Korean Empire, Japanese Troops Land, Arrest the Korean Emperor, Occupy the Royal Palace, and Replace the Existing Government with Prominent Members of the Pro ~ Japanese Faction. The First Sino ~ Japanese War has begun. 1891 15th June The Democratic State of Taiwan is a Strange Construction; a State run by Chinese Officials who never wanted to be Independent, Surrounded by Predatory Powers, but Forbidden by Treaty to Rejoin with China, the only Nation it feels any Love for. Only Pressure from the French and the Russians has Prevented Japan from Annexing Taiwan and, while the Treaty of Iizuka had Designated the new Republic as a Neutral “Buffer Zone” between China and Japan, in Reality this is a Ruse for a continued French Interest on the Island. As a Result, the Years after the First Sino-Japanese War are a Power Struggle between Liu Mingchuan, the Former Chinese Governor of the Island and President of Taiwan, the French Ambassador, Charles-Marie Le Myre de Vilers, and his Japanese Counterpart, Miura Gorō. Matters come to a Head when an Unknown Anarchist throws a Bomb at President Liu; the President is only slightly Injured but the Attack Incites Anti ~ Foreigner Riots throughout Northern Taiwan; that Evening in Tamsui, a Party of Sailors from the Visiting French Battleship La Galissonnière are Attacked by a Taiwanese Mob, and, in the Ensuing Drunken Brawl, Three of the Sailors are Killed. The Incident Provides the French with the Perfect Opportunity to Escalate the Situation. Ambassador Le Myre de Vilers Wires Quai d'Orsay, who, in Turn, Issue an Ultimatum Demanding that Taiwan Pay Massive Reparations for the Injured Sailors and to the Relatives of the Deceased, or Face War. 9th July In the Democratic State of Taiwan, a French Naval Squadron Sails into Keelung and Tamsui and takes up Positions. All Pretense of a French Settlement is Dropped and Ambassador Le Myre de Vilers Demands the full Annexation of Taiwan into the Kingdom of France. President Liu has spent the Remainder of June Desperately Requesting Support from the Japanese, but, Despite being Furious over the French Actions, Ambassador Gorō Replies that Tokyo cannot Intervene and Risk War against the Superior French Fleet. 1st August In the German Empire, the Taiwanese Crisis Proves to be the Trigger for the Final Act between Friedrich Naumann and his new Kaiser. Despite their Earlier Clashes over Foreign Policy, the Imperial Chancellor has Briefly made himself Untouchable by his Triumph over the Anglo-German Alliance in April, however the Kaiser is still Determined to bring his Chancellor to Heel, and the Final Disintegration of France’s long ~ Standing Diplomatic Isolationism gives Wilhelm II most of the Ammunition that he needs. The Kaiser is Outraged by the French Landings in Taiwan and the Subsequent Japanese Humiliation, although this may be more through his Love of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Comic Opera, The Mikado rather than any Strategic Concern. Wilhelm II’s Romantic Opinions about the Japanese Inevitably Clash with his Chancellor’s Intentions, which are to lend his Tacit Support to the French as a Means of Fostering good Relations with the Russians and Encouraging Saint Petersburg to Focus on Asia rather than Closer to Home. For once, Naumann finds himself on the wrong Side of the German Press and Isolated. When, in Early August, Naumann Misjudges the Situation and Tenders his Resignation, the Kaiser Calls his Bluff and Shocks the Entire Country by Accepting and Replacing him with Count Leo von Caprivi.
Martin Verran
2020-07-24 17:55:09 +0000 UTCHer hair really was a boat
Thomas Alfred Weaver
2020-07-24 17:38:24 +0000 UTC
