2 Chapter 15

Chapter 15 - 1650 to 1700: The East India Company

In 1651, Sweden gains independence from Norway. After many years under first Poland then Norway, Swedes are finally independent.

All loans are paid off in 1652, several years ahead of estimates. Experts agree that it was the quick recovery of trade that contributed the most (trade makes up 41% of income). It is not quite at pre-war levels, but recovery is happening.

In September of 1653, the first British colony in South America is founded. A daring move, seeing as the Teutonic Order considers all lands south of Brazil to be their territory.

Norge also jumps into the game of colonies, taking several islands in the Caribbean. That makes a total of 8 nations currently with colonies.

Meanwhile, British sentiment turns away from Europe. The losses from the war makes conquest in Europe much less desirable, and the government begins looking elsewhere. The far off land of India, rich in spices and poor in technology, is top of the list. In 1662, a new army and navy, the Oriental Army and the Indian Fleet, are in the Indian Ocean. War is declared on Ceylon, and the troops land in Kotte.

Kotte falls after a long siege. The British troops are unused to fighting in the jungles of Ceylon, and casualties and attrition are high.

In 1664, Ceylon surrenders the entire island to the Brits. The first Indian base is secured, but over a population of dissident natives.

On October 1st, the East India Company is founded, a stock company founded to further trade in India. For now, Ceylon is mostly ruled by the Company.

A decade of peace follows the end of the war. Life in Europe goes on as usual, and it seems large scale warfare has slowed down. In the colonies, expansion seems rapid. In North America, the Thirteen Colonies flourishes. Its capital of Delaware has become a large and prosperous city. For now, the people seem content, despite being detached from British politics.

The Galician colony of Florida, on the other hand, is much slower to build. Despite controlling all of the peninsula, the colonists total barely 10 thousand people.

In Mexico, land is all that matters. Although it is twice as large as the Thirteen Colonies in land, Mexique has half the population. Rapid expansion has brought the colony into contact with the Aztec societies in Central America.

The Caribbean has be nearly completely taken by the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Antillen) and Norge (Karibien). Only Jamaica is not controlled by one of the two.

In South America, most of the coast is now claimed by one nation or another. The north is controlled completely by Castile, other than a small chunk of land owned by Galicia.

Teutonic Brazil grows at an alarming rate, spanning thousands of miles of coast and jungle. Along the west coast is Teutonic La Plata and Peru, two colonies that only came into being in the last 2 decades, but which cover all the west coast which is not controlled by natives. Only a small part near the southern tip is owned by Britain.

In 1679, Scottisha dies, leaving the throne to her daughter Must Love Cats. Dude Man, daughter of the new empress, is the heir to the throne of Britain.

Soon after becoming Empress, Must Love Cats declares war on Madurai, a small Indian nation just across the waters from Ceylon.

The war ends a year after it begins, and the conquered province is given to the East India Company. Now Britain has a foothold in mainland India.

In 1681, the north Indian nation of Delhi becomes the first non European ally to Britain. With this new, rather powerful, ally, Britain hopes to overcome the sprawling Hindu Kingdom of Karnata.

In April of 1682, the South American colony becomes large enough for some autonomy. In honor of the fallen Emperor Dohaeris, Must Love Cats declares the colony of Doharia.

Later that year, the British Moluccan Charter Company is founded from the first British colony in the Spice Islands.

In 1683, the Norwegian colony of Karibien declares war against their overlords. Norge, since the independence of Sweden, has lost all of its European land. They now control only Iceland and the few scattered colonies they settled. Nerves run high in Britain and the Parliament, officials are worried that the successful declaration of independence from the Karibien may inspire other colonies to follow suit.

In 1685, war is declared on Luwu in order to expand the BMCC's (British Moluccan Charter Company) territory.

The tribal army that defends Luwu is destroyed quickly and the capital is put under siege. A few months later the city falls and the enemy is fully annexed.

In 1690, Karibien becomes the first independent colony. Its peace with Norge involves the latter's complete withdrawal from the Caribbean. In light of its independence, the young nation renames itself to Haiti. Independence sentiment grows in the rest of the colonies...

In 1692, the East India Company is ready for more expansion. Must Love Cats declares war on Karnata, the largest of the Indian powers.

The brilliant General DKM Tudwallon leads 27 thousand British and Company troops into Karnata, while the Fleet blockades the coast. They are initially pushed back by 100 thousand angry Indians. But, once they are on friendly territory, the Brits defeat the enemy armies, trapping them on the island and hunting them down with the aid of a hired mercenary army.

Unfortunately, mass amounts of Indian warships force the Brits to take shelter, but not until they are reduced to a mere 12 ship fleet. Finally, the British Royal Fleet of 70 arrives and relieves the island from the siege. The army crosses back into India and takes control of many of the forts.

Carnatic accepts peace in 1695 after being fully besieged. They are made protectorate of Britain. The rest of the war only lasts a few months. In the peace agreement, Britain takes all of the southern tip of India except the province owned by Madurai, as well as a large amount of gold. In addition, Karnata cuts off all relations with Sind, their ally to the north. Now the difficult part of pacifying the conquered Indians begins.

In the 1696, a penal colony is started in the far off land of Australia. It is the farthest colony from the homeland, and it takes over 6 months to make the trip one way.

In 1698, a Colonel in the Thirteen Colonies makes a name for himself by encouraging resistance against the crown. He is made general through his popularity with the people. His name is Moosemac Swithelm.

At the turn of the century, Britain is back at the top; it has the 3rd largest army behind Russia and Iraq and the largest navy in the world; its military is the most advanced in the world; and it has colonies on every continent other than Antarctica.

What could possibly go wrong?

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