More Realistic Draka

[Locke]

Now, I'm sure this one has been done to death. I saw more than a fair share of these back on AH.Com. Hopefully, however, this one is unique enought o diferentate itself fromk others. There are no super-Draka here-just a normal nation-well, not normal of course, but not as ASB as Stirling's. Whereas Dave Howery's had the universe shift slightly against the Draka in the '30's, the universe treats everyone equally here. So, hopefully, you enjoy this.

Part 1

1776
American Revolution begins. Major Patrick Ferguson invents early breech loading rifle.

1778
France declares war on Great Britain.

1779
British fleet under Admiral Lord Cochrane lands occupying force in Capetown. Spain declares war on Britain.

1780
Colonel Ferguson's loyalists are defeated in the Battle of King’s Mountain, yet Ferguson survives. The Netherlands declare war on Britain.

1781
General Cornwallis besieged at Yorktown in Virginia, surrenders to American rebels and their French allies.

1782
Britain takes Trinidad and Tobago, while Spain takes the Bahamas.

1783
Second Peace of Paris. American independence recognized, with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick under American control; British conquests in the Caribbean are exchanged for possession of Dutch Cape Colony; Spain not only keeps Florida, but also the Bahamas.

1783
Loyalty Acts passed by British Parliament: the Cape is renamed the Crown Colony of Drakia, and all colonials who fought or otherwise suffered for their loyalty to the Crown are offered transport and land grants; so are the Hessian and other German mercenaries in British service at the time. Legislative Assembly meets in Capetown. General Patrick Ferguson is first Governor-General.

1780-85
First Loyalist refugees arrive in Capetown. Conquest of Southern Africa begun; border pushed eastward to Orange and Tugela Rivers. In total, 65,000 Loyalists and their families (not including some 8,000 slaves) arrive by 1785; 7,000 Hessians follow, with relatives and families arriving in a steady trickle from Germany. At this time the Dutch Afrikaner population is less than 9,000, and is soon assimilated through intermarriage. In 1785, the first steam engine is imported.

1784
General Banastare Tarleton becomes first Commander-in-Chief.

1783-84
Famine devastates Iceland. 25,000 Icelanders offered asylum in Drakia, arriving 1783-86.

1786
Drakian Legislative Assembly passes Indentured Labor and Master and Servant Acts, establishing system of debt-peonage for conquered non-white population. This rapidly becomes indistinguishable from chattel slavery, which is also practiced.

1786-90
Rapid growth of economy and population. Export trades in diamonds, gold, copper, sugar, wool, salt, hides, ivory, etc., established. Drakian ships active in Atlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades. Free population reaches 175,000; slave/serf/native is 1,500,000. Inn 1789, the Bastille is stormed by the Parisian militia, and the French Revolution begins. In 1790, Patrick Ferguson establishes the Ferguson Armory in Capetown, where he produces his much improved (in relation to the original) Ferguson breech-loading rifle Model 1790. The M1790 will be the standard-issue Drakan rifle for the next half-century.

1791-1795
The Indian slave trade leads to the popularity of “imported” Indian culture. Friendly relations are established between Drakia and several Indian kingdoms, including Mysore, Maratha, and Nizam. Anglican bishoprics established in Cape Town and Virconium. The founding of Virconium (Durban, South Africa) and Venta Belgarum (East London, South Africa). The Drakian border is expanded northwards to the Vaal River.

1796-1800
Period of rapid growth continues, with serious slave/serf revolts in 1796 and 1798-99 Slave Code of 1799 grants all free-men power of life and death over "unruly and disobedient slaves and other bondservants." Royalists from France flee to various other European/American countries, with around 5,000 ending up in Drakia.

[Diamond]

Yep, pretty good so far, no real surprises. When do they annex China?

[Thande]

Originally Posted by Diamond

Yep, pretty good so far, no real surprises. When do they annex China?

You did one of these a while back didn't you?

[Admiral Canaris]

Originally Posted by Locke

Now, I'm sure this one has been done to death. I saw more than a fair share of these back on AH.Com.

The best one, IMHO, is DrakaFic over at Stardestroyer. Great attention to detail; it attempts to salvage some plausibility for the Dominate while setting up a situation similar to the first book (before delivering a major smack-down). There are some idiosynrasies in the writing, though.

Oh, and keep posting.

[Diamond]

Originally Posted by Thande

You did one of these a while back didn't you?

Yep, it's posted in the AH forum.

[Brendon]

Famine devastates Iceland. 25,000 Icelanders offered asylum in Drakia, arriving 1783-86.

I think this is a case where you should definitely mention the volcanic eruption there. Not too important. Does anyone have a source for how many left Iceland during that time, and how they could be redirected towards Drakia?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Diamond

Yep, pretty good so far, no real surprises. When do they annex China?

"A More realistic Draka..."

having them invade China kinda defeats the whole purpose doesn't it?

Originally Posted by Admiral Canaris

The best one, IMHO, is DrakaFic over at Stardestroyer. Great attention to detail; it attempts to salvage some plausibility for the Dominate while setting up a situation similar to the first book (before delivering a major smack-down). There are some idiosynrasies in the writing, though.

Oh, and keep posting.

Thanks. care to elaborate on those idiosyncrasies?

Originally Posted by Brendon

I think this is a case where you should definitely mention the volcanic eruption there. Not too important. Does anyone have a source for how many left Iceland during that time, and how they could be redirected towards Drakia?

Well, since the famine was caused by the volcanic eruption in the first place, I assumed it was a given.

[Brendon]

Well, since the famine was caused by the volcanic eruption in the first place, I assumed it was a given

Not to people who are not well-versed in pre-1900 history, that's for sure. I wouldn't know about it unless I read a good deal of Draka fiction. I'm just saying, you know, I don't know why you would leave it as unsaid...

Draka 2a says that Iceland's pop. was 37,000 before the famine took a quarter of them. Ian says the pop. was 50,000. In any case, I can't see more than several thousand choosing to emigrate to Drakia. 25,000 Icelanders choosing to emigrate so far away and to so different a climate... very implausible.

[Thande]

Originally Posted by Locke

"A More realistic Draka..."

having them invade China kinda defeats the whole purpose doesn't it?

Does CF.net have a Captaincy-Literal post, chaps?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Thande

Does CF.net have a Captaincy-Literal post, chaps?

Rwoaarrrr! No it doesn't. That's a mediocre title? Can't we be serious?



Anyways, here's Part Dos.

Part Two


1801-1810
The popularity, interest, and friendly relations with the Indian nations leads to the founding of cities such as Diskarapur (Newcastle, South Africa) and Shahnapur (Maputo, Mozambique). Popularity with Persian arts also grows along with Moghul. In 1804, the Haitian revolution results in a large influx of French refugees throughout the rest of the Caribbean. 6,000 end up in Drakia. In 1805, the free population of Drakia is 350,000. Drakia takes control of the entire Transvaal area, and expands its border all the way up to the Limpopo River. Drakian settlements begin appearing in western Madagascar.
In Europe, the Napoleonic Wars rage. In 1804, France sells Louisiana to the U.S for a bargain. The Netherlands lose their Indian possessions when they war against Britain, which proceeds to expand its control over the subcontinent, despite meeting fierce resistance. The Portuguese government is captured by Franco-Spanish forces after Portugal is invaded, and to stop the dismantling of the Portuguese nation, they agree to join the Continental system. Brazil declares independence as a result, following in the lead of the U.S, and several other Spanish colonies in South America. In Drakia, the first small-scale iron-works, machine shops, and shipbuilding yards started as the Napoleonic Wars render imports uncertain. Cotton becomes important crop. In 1810, the Transportation Directorate is formally established.

1811-1815
In 1812, the final war breaks out between the U.S, and Britain. British interference with U.S trade and violation of international laws provokes the conflict. Over the course of three years, the war seesaws back and forth, with both sides making use of Indian allies. Over the course of 1812 and 1813, the Us expends considerable effort in securing the Northwest territories, and in early 1814, launches a two-pronged invasion of Canada, with two large armies, each numbering 10,000 troops. One army, departing from Michigan, is headed towards Toronto, while the other army crosses the St. Lawrence, and attacks Montreal. Both of these cities fall, yet the British manage to defeat the Americans outside of Quebec. In the meantime, the British manage to launch a raid and burn Boston to the ground. Ultimately, however, the British must relent, as they are unable to remove the American presence from Canada. A peace treaty is signed September 6, and the war of 1812 is over, with Canada under American rule.

This great and embarrassing defeat leads to a massive emigration of British loyalists from Canada, some 250,000 in number. Some 75,000 of them end up in Drakia over the next few years.

However, in 1815, the Peace of Vienna is signed, with Napoleon decisively defeated, and while he is still in power, the Continental System has been cut down considerably. Despite this, Napoleon still indirectly controls a large part of Europe, with his relatives in charge of various German, Italian, and Spanish states.


1816-1820
With the Napoleonic Wars over, and Napoleon greatly weakened, and with the Netherlands and Belgium under French control, Britain takes over the East Indies, and begins establishing settlements in Australia. Drakian forces, in response to native raids in Madagascar, expand their presence, and send a large military force there. By 1820, all of Madagascar is conquered, with over 100,000 natives dead, and most of the rest enslaved. During this time, Northmark (Rhodesia/Zimbabwe) is also assimilated into Drakia with settlement and development encouraged by the Transportation Ministry. The Militia Act of 1817 establishes that every man must report his name to the local militia in case he needs to be called upon, and allows for peacetime conscription. The Drakian standing army, however, is limited to 100,000 strong, and no free man must serve for more than two years. The Drakian army is still basically all volunteer, and the peacetime conscription clause will not be used for some time.

In South America, the independence of basically all of the rebellious Spanish colonies (and Brazil) is recognized: the Union of the River Plate, comprising of Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile; Gran Columbia (Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador); Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and the Brazil Empire. In Central America, the Central American Confederacy is confirmed, as is the Mexican Empire. Spain, however, still retains control of all of its Caribbean possessions (as do all of the other European powers).

1821-1830
Following a wave of jingoistic nationalism in result of America’s great victory over Britain, the U.S becomes increasingly involved in world affairs. After the declaration of the Monroe Doctrine, Spanish Florida is seized, and Spain is forced to sell it at a bargain. U.S expansion out west begins to expand, while clashes occur between the federal government and the Native Americans. In 1824, a force of several thousand troops is sent to secure Haiti, yet it is almost obliterated by the combined force of tropical diseases and Haitian irregulars. Only a few hundred return home, curbing America’s eager expansion and aggressiveness.

In Africa, Portugal, desperate for money, and wracked in a civil war, offers to sell its colonies of Angola and Mozambique to Drakia, which gladly take up the offer. In the wake of the Napoleonic Wars, British veterans and Napoleonic refugees immigrate en masse, some 200,000 in number. In the 1820s, the Universities of Cape Town and Virconium are founded. In 1829, the settlement of Archona is founded. Though small, it will quickly grow once the great mineral wealth of the interior becomes apparent. The Witwatersrand Gold Rush of 1828-1830 also happens around this time, when gold is discovered in the sedimentary hills. The gold rush leads to a large influx of immigrants eager to strike it reach. During this nearly three year period, nearly 100,000 people immigrate to Drakia in search of wealth, yet less than 1% of them will actually discover what they are looking for.

1831-1835
Under pressure from British, Drakia passes the Indentured Servitude Act, granting the General Constabulary prime jurisdiction over serf population, and repealing the Slave Code of 1799. Guardianship Councils are formed at Provincial level to investigate serf complaints of mistreatment at the hands of Citizens. There is much resentment to this law from many citizens, who feel it is an infringement upon their society. In 1835, with its coastal communities booming, the Transportation Directorate proposes a railroad linking Cape Town to Venta Belgarum, and all of the towns in-between. Immigrant labor and serfs are employed to complete the project, which achieves great success, and further bolsters the economy of the region. The nearly 500 mile side-by-side railroads are completed in just three years, opening to a great ceremony on December 31st, 1835. The Free population of Drakia is now 1.5 million, with a slave, or “serf” population of nearly 5 million.

1836-1850
In mid-1836, gold and diamonds are discovered near Archona in Transvaal. This results in a new wave of immigration to Drakia and into the interior. Rapid growth occurs in the area, and in the process of transportation, the Transportation Directorate quickly builds a railroad to Archona. Practically overnight, Archona grows into a large city, with nearly 50,000 inhabitants. In 1837, the railroad line is completed, and African Mining and Metals Combine is founded. The government grants the monopoly of large-scale mining to the company, which in turn leases smaller deposits to discoverers. In 1838, School of Mines is founded in Archona, and Drakia’s gold output is nearly 2 million ounces annually. In 1845, a large Drakian force sails and conquers Zanzibar, the capitol of Oman. From then on, they take hold of all of Oman’s east African colonies, which were primarily the East African city states. As time goes by, further Drakian investment in the area will lead to more development in terms of infrastructure and industrialization, and further pushes will lead the Drakians into the interior and towards the rich Great Lakes of Africa.

This decade is often seen as the largest period of growth in Drakia’s history. In the space of less than 3 decades, Drakia’s population more than triples, and the rapid growth of export agriculture and manufacturing/transport makes Drakia’s economy one of the fastest-growing, and most developed in the world. However, Drakia is not free of its vices; abolitionist groups in England and the northern U.S. begin a cultural political campaign against Drakia for alleged "depravity" and other violations of Victorian middle-class norms, aimed against its institutions of chattel. This produces fierce anti-bourgeois sentiment in Drakia. In the late 1830s, the railroad industry grows even more. The Coastal Rail Line is expanded to Virconium, and then Diskarapur and Shahnapur. The high-pressure steam engine’s performance is greatly enhanced by independent tinkerers, and when coal mining operations begin in Natalia, the price for imported steam engines drops even further. Soon, railroads are the main form of transportation Drakia, and basically every town larger than 5,000 people is connected to one. During this time period, Drakia formally conquers Namibia, and Zambia, with its border running at the Ruvuma River.
In Europe, Napoleon dies in 1839 at the old age of 70. However, he had given up his power long ago to his son, Napoleon II, in 1832. France begins expanding into Algeria. In North America, tensions between the U.S and Mexico reach the boiling point when Texas is annexed by the U.S in 1845. The Mexican-American war ensues, during which ¾ of Mexico is conquered and annexed (at the urging of the Young America party), with peace being formally declared in 1848.

[Locke]

Bump. Comments?

[Brendon]

Come on, really? This is your more realistic timeline? The entirety of Mexico annexed? No offense man but I'm losing my faith in you

Also, there are way too many Loyalists moving to Drakia. You've taken the sum total of ALL of the Loyalists who emigrated after the ARW and had them ALL move to South Africa. Its implausible that they would decide to pick up and move to such a horribly small little colony.

[Straha]

Realism isn't the only reason people do timelines, Brendon.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Brendon

Come on, really? This is your more realistic timeline? The entirety of Mexico annexed? No offense man but I'm losing my faith in you

Also, there are way too many Loyalists moving to Drakia. You've taken the sum total of ALL of the Loyalists who emigrated after the ARW and had them ALL move to South Africa. Its implausible that they would decide to pick up and move to such a horribly small little colony.

First of all, this is not just Loyalists from America, it's Loyalists from Canada-which includes Loyalists who fled from America to Canada in the first place. I thought that 75,000 was a fair sized number, out of a total of 250,000who fled to various other areas. And no, I havn't had the sum total of ALL the Loyalists who emigrated after the ARW move to South Africa. I think you read that wrong...

Second of all, this is supposed to be a MORE REALISTIC Draka, not a 100% realistic Draka. I'm still going to leave in some ASB events, because quite frankly, what is ASB in our timeline might seem quite plausible in another. And while this is much, more realistic than any OTHER Draka fanfic has ever done, I'm still going to have some things that are fun. Keep that in mind as you read this.

[Straha]

I'm definately never posting any TLs I do on boards where brendon is a member of.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Lance McSteel

I'm definately never posting any TLs I do on boards where brendon is a member of.

Why not?

[Straha]

He'd swoop in and ruin the threads.

[Brendon]

Oh come on Lance, that's a pretty serious accusation you're making. I am ruining the thread? How does one criticism of mine ruin a thread? I mean, look, the thread is titled 'More Realistic'. I love realism in my timelines. That's what I thought Locke was going for. That's what I want my TLs to go for. If that isn't part of your mission statement, then that's fine, I'll read it with that in mind. How in the hell do I ruin every timeline that is posted on this board? Geeze, just because I give a little constructive criticism?

It's not a crime to desire realism in an ATL. Everyone is entitled to their own interests and appreciations.

Now that that's done with: Locke, I hadn't considered Canada as well. I guess that's realistic enough, if very optimistic. I still have a problem with Iceland and Mexico, but its not overwhelming. If you choose to keep it still leaning towards the ASB spectrum, that's totally fine, thanks for telling me.

[Admiral Canaris]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thanks. care to elaborate on those idiosyncrasies?

I meant theirs, not yours.

[Alex]

Brendon: in OTL, the US was in a position to annex as much of Mexico as it wanted to. So having the US that does not mind a large Spanish-speaking population take the territory after the Mexican armies have been thoroughly destroyed is not that off the mark. After all, even in OTL the US was at Mexico City before it dictated the peace terms.

[Brendon]

Sure, but there was strong protest against including the huge majority of the Spanish-speaking Catholic population in the United States. I'm not saying that the USA couldn't have done it, but where would the popular consent come from? The Mexican-American War was already extremely controversial, and giving millions of Mexicans citizenship would be one incredible controversy. With Canada absorbed (wait, is all of Canada taken in this timeline?), I can see there being more of a probability that its all taken... hey, even in Ian's timeline all of Mexico was taken... but it would be an event that would certainly shake up American history much more than the original Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. I don't know... it just screams implausible to me, but maybe it was avoided just by a hair's breadth and only history has made it look like an impossibility.

[HueyLong]

It would also cause the slavery issue to pop up in an uglier way ten years earlier.

[Straha]

The US annexing mexico is unlikely but by no means that unlikely. Simply have polk die and Dallas become POTUS. Dallas was more of a manifest destinarian.

That said, OTL is on the implausible side due to the unlikely circumstances leading us to take only half of mexico and not the entire north+yucatan.

If you want pure realism, Locke's idea of 3/4 of mexico being grabbed is closer to that than OTL.

[Straha]

Originally Posted by HueyLong

It would also cause the slavery issue to pop up in an uglier way ten years earlier.

Hm. Disagree. I could see an even number of free and slave states created from all of former mexico(OTL's mexican cession plus the rest of mexico). Say 10 free states(most in populous central mexico) and 10 slave states(in emptier north/south mexico).

Odds are in this TL due to Canada being American, and thus creating more of a northern balance we get a world that's like OTL's 1850s politically in many ways complete with a civil war. The difference is that the confederate surrender would be outside of Havana or outside of Merida instead of at Appotomatax.

[Straha]

Here's a map of what the US-mexican border probably looks like in Locke's TL.