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Description
The year is 1803 (remind to put label and key on map later!). With Crusader influence over the Levant increasing, and European control over both the Black Sea and the Gulf of Aden solidified, eyes begin to point further east and south.

In the north, the Catholic Kingdom of Antioch is poised to strike at the weakened Turkish states in Anatolia, however, they do so under contention from their natural allies in the dual Roman Empires to the northwest. However, their power over the Black Sea is tenuous at best. Both the rapidly growing Ruthenian Commonwealth and the Venetian trade influence are drawing closer to rendering the Eastern Roman Empire powerless in maritime control.

Between the massive Russian and Ruthenian powers in the north and the Persian Safavids in the south lay the Caucasus states of Georgia and Circassia. The network of political alliances and treaties between the Crusader states and the Persian empire has kept them prosperous and independent. And with the northern powers embroiled in their own conflicts, they have been left to their own devices. The population of non-Cristians is small as most fled to the south over the last three centuries.

The jewel of the Levant, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, continues to prosper under the leadership of its Francien kings and has pushed itself as far east as the Euphrates. A solidified peace with the Safavids ensures that more attention can be focused to keep the peace internally. The Marcher lords in the mostly Islamic areas of Irak, however, do face periodic incursion from Safavid raiders and growing resentment from Shi'ite populations desiring to break away from the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In Africa, the Anglicanised Kings of Ethiopia, in alliance with both the Angevine Empire and the Crusader Kingdoms to their north, look to expand into the Sunni sultanates of the Horn. Frederick II, King of Aegpyt, has called upon his brother, the Prince-Elector of Teutonia, to send troops for these endeavours in Africa. Across the Red Sea, the large Duchy of Tabuk - an all but vassal state to the Kingdom of Jerusalem - guarantees Crusader control of traffic into the reduced Immamate of Mecca. And its grasp on Aden leaves the Sultanate of Yemen in a much weaker position, having recently lost control of much of its profitable coastline to a Western-influenced republic. Its neighbour to the northeast, the Sultanate of Oman, remains cautious as it is surrounded by European foreigners.

The Angevine and Venetian possessions in the Gulf of Oman vie for control of the Indian principalities. And with the old Portuguese colonies in the south of Africa now under direct control of the Angevine Crown, they have the means to push into India both economically and militaristically.

// Sorry that the map's rather bare and boring. I shouldn't've gone with such a massive are to be quite honest lol

Firstly, it's been a while since I've posted, and I'm about to go on holiday again! And you guys should get more from me in a more timely manner. Plus I'm still in the midst of discovering a style that I truly fancy and thought this one looks half decent so why not upload and share.

Secondly, I definitely left my comfort zone behind to put this together (thanks for that Zalezsky!) and whilst trying to keep it even remotely coherent, I realised that I honestly know next to nothing about the internal histories of most of the non-European world from around 1500 - 1919! Imagine then trying to conjure up an alternate history of the area without having knowledge of any real history! So, enjoy my obvious collection of mishmashed Sultanates and Emirates and Khanates, oh my. I did learn that there can only be one Caliphate at a time (which makes sense and is totally obvious now that I think about it) sort of similar to the existance of a single European Empire aka the Holy Roman Empire (before Napoleon said "fuck that, where's my crown"; oh and sorry Russia and Byzantium, you guys don't count cos you're not Catholic).

I suppose you could say that I've just destroyed lots of cultural nuances in the southwest of Asia and even northeastern Africa by creating rather simplistic states and fueling the super Catholic Crusader Kingdom stereotype, but I'm doing my best to learn because a lot of it is really quite fascinating, and I do hope some of my future maps dive deeper into the myriad varied regions that this area is composed of: the Levant is an obvious choice, but I love the silhouette for Aegypt and the Red Sea. As well as for the Arabian Peninsula, showing just how the crusaders were able to take the lands around Mecca and stave off the Sunni jihads that followed might make for a new style of map. And of course, a more in-depth look at the Eastern Roman/Grecian Empires and the rest of Anatolia would be so much fun in both earlier and later times. And the Catholic Ruthenian Commonwealth versus Orthodox Russian Empire would also be interesting to put together. Maybe jumping over to the new world: Borealia in the 19th century? The Kingdom of New England in the 17th century? There's a lot to show, and anything/everything can/will change!

Lastly, I do sincerely hope that all of you guys continue to enjoy my maps and my alternate histories as fantastical as they are. And thanks so, so, so much for all of the kind words and the favourites: they mean a lot, even if I'm afraid to peek at the notifications out of shyness and fear sometimes. :]

Description
The year is 1803 (remind to put label and key on map later!). With Crusader influence over the Levant increasing, and European control over both the Black Sea and the Gulf of Aden solidified, eyes begin to point further east and south.

In the north, the Catholic Kingdom of Antioch is poised to strike at the weakened Turkish states in Anatolia, however, they do so under contention from their natural allies in the dual Roman Empires to the northwest. However, their power over the Black Sea is tenuous at best. Both the rapidly growing Ruthenian Commonwealth and the Venetian trade influence are drawing closer to rendering the Eastern Roman Empire powerless in maritime control.

Between the massive Russian and Ruthenian powers in the north and the Persian Safavids in the south lay the Caucasus states of Georgia and Circassia. The network of political alliances and treaties between the Crusader states and the Persian empire has kept them prosperous and independent. And with the northern powers embroiled in their own conflicts, they have been left to their own devices. The population of non-Cristians is small as most fled to the south over the last three centuries.

The jewel of the Levant, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, continues to prosper under the leadership of its Francien kings and has pushed itself as far east as the Euphrates. A solidified peace with the Safavids ensures that more attention can be focused to keep the peace internally. The Marcher lords in the mostly Islamic areas of Irak, however, do face periodic incursion from Safavid raiders and growing resentment from Shi'ite populations desiring to break away from the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In Africa, the Anglicanised Kings of Ethiopia, in alliance with both the Angevine Empire and the Crusader Kingdoms to their north, look to expand into the Sunni sultanates of the Horn. Frederick II, King of Aegpyt, has called upon his brother, the Prince-Elector of Teutonia, to send troops for these endeavours in Africa. Across the Red Sea, the large Duchy of Tabuk - an all but vassal state to the Kingdom of Jerusalem - guarantees Crusader control of traffic into the reduced Immamate of Mecca. And its grasp on Aden leaves the Sultanate of Yemen in a much weaker position, having recently lost control of much of its profitable coastline to a Western-influenced republic. Its neighbour to the northeast, the Sultanate of Oman, remains cautious as it is surrounded by European foreigners.

The Angevine and Venetian possessions in the Gulf of Oman vie for control of the Indian principalities. And with the old Portuguese colonies in the south of Africa now under direct control of the Angevine Crown, they have the means to push into India both economically and militaristically.

// Sorry that the map's rather bare and boring. I shouldn't've gone with such a massive are to be quite honest lol

Firstly, it's been a while since I've posted, and I'm about to go on holiday again! And you guys should get more from me in a more timely manner. Plus I'm still in the midst of discovering a style that I truly fancy and thought this one looks half decent so why not upload and share.

Secondly, I definitely left my comfort zone behind to put this together (thanks for that Zalezsky!) and whilst trying to keep it even remotely coherent, I realised that I honestly know next to nothing about the internal histories of most of the non-European world from around 1500 - 1919! Imagine then trying to conjure up an alternate history of the area without having knowledge of any real history! So, enjoy my obvious collection of mishmashed Sultanates and Emirates and Khanates, oh my. I did learn that there can only be one Caliphate at a time (which makes sense and is totally obvious now that I think about it) sort of similar to the existance of a single European Empire aka the Holy Roman Empire (before Napoleon said "fuck that, where's my crown"; oh and sorry Russia and Byzantium, you guys don't count cos you're not Catholic).

I suppose you could say that I've just destroyed lots of cultural nuances in the southwest of Asia and even northeastern Africa by creating rather simplistic states and fueling the super Catholic Crusader Kingdom stereotype, but I'm doing my best to learn because a lot of it is really quite fascinating, and I do hope some of my future maps dive deeper into the myriad varied regions that this area is composed of: the Levant is an obvious choice, but I love the silhouette for Aegypt and the Red Sea. As well as for the Arabian Peninsula, showing just how the crusaders were able to take the lands around Mecca and stave off the Sunni jihads that followed might make for a new style of map. And of course, a more in-depth look at the Eastern Roman/Grecian Empires and the rest of Anatolia would be so much fun in both earlier and later times. And the Catholic Ruthenian Commonwealth versus Orthodox Russian Empire would also be interesting to put together. Maybe jumping over to the new world: Borealia in the 19th century? The Kingdom of New England in the 17th century? There's a lot to show, and anything/everything can/will change!

Lastly, I do sincerely hope that all of you guys continue to enjoy my maps and my alternate histories as fantastical as they are. And thanks so, so, so much for all of the kind words and the favourites: they mean a lot, even if I'm afraid to peek at the notifications out of shyness and fear sometimes. :]