Campaign descriptions

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The corona de Aragon` gives homage in its name to the dynastic union between the count of Barcelona and the Queen of Aragon in 1150. This resulted in an Iberian superpower that has made political implications to its desire to have in its holding as many of the islands east of Iberia as it can annex and extend its sphere of influence over. the kingdom of Aragon is inhabited by a simple & very pious people, who have earned the support of the pope through their willingness to strike at opponents of Christendom. Aragon's government is very centralized. this allows its monarch to keep close control of any potential rebellious nobles. Aragon generates a considerable amount of revenue from trade(although not equal to that of the Italian city states) but it is enough to make worthy a consistent focus on expanding and taking full advantage of its Mediterranean coastline. A major contributing factor in Aragon's wealth lies in the Arab introduction of silk to Valencia. It is here that the silk trade flourishes and has become a major source of revenue, This trade has become an alternative to the overpriced similar goods found in Italy. Aragon is rapidly gaining attention as a regional power because of its trade and papal patronage. Although Aragon is an avid trader in the lucrative trade of the Mediterranean it still must be concerned with its dominance and control over the trade routes through the Pyrenees which are of great importance as these are still the main Entry and exit points for most trade for Iberia with the rest of Europe. Aragon` Must be cautious as the Navarre` once content in isolation are beginning to broaden their commerce & political influence and in securing Navarrese access to all of Europe via these routes could result in Aragon beginning to Flounder as a Vital member in prescribing the economic, politic, & social policies of Iberia.

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The kingdom of Leon and Castilla is Iberia`s premiere superpower, which was originally a loose affiliation & "quasi-alliance" of Leon & castilla which in its aims of unifying both principalities was the creation of a force of both, capable to hold & eventually push back the Islamic elements which have dominated Iberia for centuries but in time this unison began to serve as a cultural and an administrative cohesive bond politically & socially for Central & Northern Iberia . Each of the many towns began to develop their own unique customs, free from a centralized & diminutive authority. However what united these peoples is their common usage of Castilan (which later became modern Spanish) which helped to give birth to the idealistic & conceptual vision of a truly Spanish kingdom!. The kingdom has slowly seen gains in its contributions to the reconquista (which has won Leon Castilla some favor from the Vatican). The kingdom of Leon Castilla also has plenty of natural resources, as the hills of northern Castila are home to much untapped gold veins, and Leon is quickly benefiting from the silk trade with its Moslem neighbors, and the artisans of Leon are even beginning to produce a new "Spanish" style & variety of silks. However this wealth is not experienced by the great majority of the lands inhabitants, as they are mostly poor farmers (most of which farm wheat) who are required to give a portion of what they harvest to their lords (the aristocracy and members of noble birth in which the feudal system is designed by and for the benefit of) as part of their feudal obligation. The country is budgeted for war, as the nations infrastructure is neglected to support and guarantee the army's and its fortifications to continue push back and dissuade, now not only Islamic forces but other Christian Iberian powers as well who have grown ambitious due to the efforts of Leon Castilla & its success in defending and ridding its lands of Foreign influences, and ability to win new land, and holy favor.

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The kingdom of Portugal "Rieno De Portugal" or some refer to it as "Damon` Real` de Portucal "the royal domain of Portugal" is a small & regional power. However its access to the Atlantic has given it a trade relationship with the majority of the various French trading conglomerates & the British isles as well as giving it a sea access to trade with all of Northern Europe. its political neutrality allows for the benefit of maximized trade from both parties in conflict over issues of rights to monarchy,(Le Comte` De Dauphinous & the Normans, now who control the majority of Great Britain but originated in Normandy France.) . The Portuguese are a seafaring people,and the main diet of the Portuguese people consists of the seas bounty even though wheat,other vegetables and grapes to produce wine can be farmed in the soil of the inland farming communities . Because Portugal is always threatened by invasion from its more powerful neighbors, in the eyes of its people, it is necessary for the monarchy to have absolute control in order to respond quickly to such threats. Most Portuguese citizens are illiterate, and receive no formal education but despite this reality Portugal has still produced some of the finer & more noteworthy thinkers to stem out of Iberia. contact with Moslem influences is beginning to spread & fuel a desire for a greater focus on the arts & learning within the circles of the merchant classes and the nobility. Many of the wealthier citizens are beginning to enroll their children in schools taught by the clergy (one of the Vatican`s many strategies to Christianize Iberia). Portugal's main source of income is generated from the gold mining in Portugal`s eastern hills around Lisbon. Portugal`s main trade partner is the kingdom of Leon Castilla, because Portugal is keenly aware of its necessity to remain on good terms with Leon Castilla as Portugal does control vital lands for an Islamic "foothold" back into Iberia & Portugal`s positioning itself as a significant partner to the realm of Leon Castilla puts it in a position of being seen as a "vanguard" for all the Christian powers of Iberia.

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The Sultanate of Tunisia is Islamic, located in the south central Mediterranean.A isolated but at the same time very central position as to the East is the Sahara desert & to its west the Caliphate of Tangiers which is focused on inroads into Iberia. Tunisia is ruled by an absolute monarchy but in its cultural precepts is guided by the teachings of Sunni Islam, which was brought to Tunis by Maliki in 798 AD. Maliki`s teachings emphasis individual thought & creativity in all one does. Maliki argues that science and technological advancements are the work of god through human interpretation and manipulation therefor the people who pursue these fields are often times religious leaders in Tunisia. Although this relationship between science and religion exists it does not deny any importance to the traditional ethics of Islam nor does it conflict with the ritualistic aspects of the faith, in fact like most of the royal courts of Europe, religious leaders hold much sway over their rulers and are often asked to court in place of normal advisers. Tunisia has recently recovered from a minor economic collapse brought about by plague and made worse by famine. Despite this, their new leader Abu Asida Muhammad al-Muntasir has managed to bring the nation back to life by trading with non muslim nations, (an act that has drawn much criticism from the more orthodox imams of Tunisia) which has proven incredibly affective as it is the peoples of western nations like Venice and Aragon who actually desire the spices of North Africa rather than the peoples of Egypt (who were in the past Tunisia`s primary trading partner, Tunisian development of its seafaring capacity for trade was intended as a means to overcome the harsh & long "caravan pilgrimages" of goods across the Sweltering Sahara with Egypt but this Seafaring ability opened up the trade possibilities between Tunisia, Italy and Iberia) . Adding to their profits Tunisia has begun to force-ably eliminate its competition for trade in the Mediterranean with the use of privateers it dominates the waters of the central/Southern Mediterranean . So as European nations pay for the exotic goods from distant lands (African spices, mainly) they are funding the elimination of mercantile en devours of their own. This strategy if gone unchecked could earn Tunisia the title of the Mediterraneans wealthiest nation. But could also backfire with European trading embargo's on Tunisian goods.

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The Caliphate of Tangiers is the legacy of the great Islamic dynasties who ruled Iberia for centuries. pushed back to southernmost reaches of Iberia by Leon Castilla. has taken pause in its military campaigns for & into Iberia in its strongholds of Tangiers, Fezwan & Marrakesh in Northern Africa it sees it first foothold back into Iberia in gaining control of Gibraltar, The Caliphate is unique amongst the Islamic world as the form of Islam with the majority of appeal & influence throughout its sphere of influence is a distinctly Moroccan style of Islam, unique to the Region. the markets in Tangiers are extremely active! & even though it is "taboo"
for Christians to trade with them, the wares found in Tangerian markets are of such rarity & quality one can always espy the hooded & concealed European trader doing business!
Tangiers if it can re-establish its dominance over Iberia will once again equal in Stature & magnanimity the great Islamic Dynasties to which it derives a rich & sophisticated History of a Golden and a enlightened age of rule in Iberia & Northern Africa.

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Sicilia`s strategic position has often made the kingdom a victim of invasions. In the last five hundred years Sicilia has been occupied by the Byzantines, Lombards, the Saracens, Normans, and recently the French crown. However with the aid of the Kingdom of Aragon the people of Sicilia have managed to shed their oppressors and become the rulers (at least for now) of their own domain. Because of the many cultures that have set foot on, and then decided to domesticate and assimilate Sicilia`s population & create colonies on Sicilia in the past, sicilia is a very cosmopolitan kingdom (at least as far as 14th century European monarchy's are concerned)The central Capital located on the far west of the island is Palermo. Paermlo, which has always been a large port has thrived due to the new found regained independence of its people, because it is a common trade stop for Iberian and Italian merchants. After Sicilias independence many of Frances enemy's invested large sums of money into the Sicilian economy in order to gain sole trade rights to the island nation. Many of Sicilias present Allys are lined up and awaiting the opportunity to take advantage of Sicilias marble mines and abundant fields of crops, as well as becoming significant players in the trade of the large port of Palermo. With all of the various ethnic influences at play in Sicilia it will take decisive & keen social maneuvering by its leaders to strengthen Sicilia in cultural Solidarity thus avoiding the Island from becoming prone too and opportune for yet another occupation.

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As we are currently finished with the Faction descriptions, the rest of the following descriptions will pertain to the Geography of each region.

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Western Poland.


Poland is an unbroken plain reaching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Carpathian Mountains in the south. Within that plain, terrain variations generally run in bands from east to west. The Baltic coast lacks natural harbors except for the Gdańsk-Gdynia region and Szczecin in the far northwest. The northeastern region, called the Lake District, is densely wooded, sparsely populated and lacks agricultural and trade resources. To the south and west of the lake district, a vast region of plains which extend to the Bohemian Border and Hungarian border to the southwest and to the Carpathians in the South East.

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The British Isles

The British Isles include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller islands. Most of these smaller Islands are mere rocks which are barren except for the meager plant life that has grown atop them. There are four sovereign states located on the islands:Cornwall, The Normans, Ireland & in the North there are the Scottish as well.
The oldest rocks in the group are in the north west of Scotland and Ireland . The climate is temperate , with mild winters and warm wet summers. The North Atlantic Drift brings significant moisture and raises the temperature at occasional times well above the normal temperatures experienced by other Northern European locales . This has led to a landscape which has been long dominated by temperate forests.The islands enjoy a mild climate, with varied soils (which supports diverse agricultural cultivation)and also giving rise to a diverse pattern of indigenous vegetation. Animal and plant life is similar to that of the northwestern European continent. However, there are only a few of the continental species of animals but a bounty of different fauna found in Great Britain and even less variations of animal life can be found in Ireland, but still in Ireland there can be found a vast array of different plant life.

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Germany

At the southern end of Germany are the Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe. In central Germany are the Harz mountains.Germany also has many rolling plains which make good farm land. The Rhine River, in the western part of Germany, is a main waterway for transporting goods from northern ports. Germany has a moderate climate. Winter temperatures vary from west to east, with about freezing temperatures in the west and well below freezing in eastern Germany. a major feature in the geographic structure of Germany is the "Black Forest" a dense forest which is almost impossible to traverse & is located in the northeast of Germany & acts as "natural Barrier" for Potential inroads by either Imperium af Denmark or imperium af Polanski.

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France

the lands of France are beautiful & diverse. It has lush green forests, sparkling rivers, and mountains. the mountain range that runs across the border of France and Italy is a made up of unique and intricate valleys and peaks. Mount Blanc is the highest point of these mountains known as the French Alps. One of the most attractive areas in France is a granite plateau in in the mid/center of the French regions. Also known as Vichy and it is dotted with volcanoes (mostly extinct), crater lakes, and hot springs .France’s landscapes varies from flat empty plains to heights like Mount Blanc. To the north France, is made up of mostly of land that is very flat in many places, and gradually slopes down. In the center of this basin is Paris. The east side of the basin is made of limestone, and is a good strong natural defense. On the west side, it extends to ridges which form cliffs along the English Channel. The north side of the "Paris" Basin transcends into the plains of Flanders. To the northeast and east are the Ardennes and Vosges mountains. To the southwest of the Northern basin the area is connected to the other large lowlands in France called the Aquitaine Basin by a piece of land called the Gate of Poitou. The south-central part of France is mostly low peaks & shallow valleys.

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Western Hungary

The western part of Hungary is known as Trans danubia and comprises a diverse terrain with smaller hills having flat and open ranges. The eastern portion has a flat land called the Great Plain that extends to the south and east of Budapest. Again, at the top of the eastern region of Hungary, extending toward the Ukraine border, are the northern Hungarian mountain ranges.
Hungary is basically divided into the 3 major geographic areas, such as the Great Alfold, the Transdanubia and the Northern Hills. There are also several lakes in this country.
The climate of Hungary is temperate by nature, with little fluctuations all through the country. July and August are said to be the hottest months, whereas the coldest months of winter usually extends from January to February, during which period the temperatures may come down to the mid-twenties.

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Sicily
the largest Mediterranean island, Sicily is sometimes called Trinacria [Gr.,=triangle];The island is almost entirely covered by hills and mountains (continuations of the Apennines in Italy). Mt. Etna (a lively volcano) is the primary feature of the islands make-up in the east, and is the highest point to be found on Sicily. The sole wide valley which allows for the Islands only fertile plain of Catania, and is in the east as well, located near & along the lower Simeto River. There are also narrow coastal strips which present the similar conditions of fertility as the Catania (which promote agriculture) in the south and sothwest, and a small fertile plain (the Conca d'Oro) near Palermo in the northwest.

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Italy

Italy is a mountainous country, with the Alps as the northern boundary and the Apennine Mountains forming the backbone of the peninsula which run directly down the length from north to the south of Italy. in the north where the Alps ends lies a large plain in the valley of the Po, which is the largest river in Italy, which flows eastward from the Cottian Alps to the Adriatic & the base of this Plateau is where the Apennines begin
Most of Italy's rivers drain either into the Adriatic Sea (like Po, Piave, Adige, Reno) or into the Thyrrenian (like Arno, Tiber and Volturno), though the waters from some border municipalities (Livigno in Lombardy, Innichen and Sexten in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol) drain into the Black Sea through the basin of the Drava, a tributary of the Danube, and the waters from the Lago di Lei in Lombardy drain into the North Sea through the basin of the Rhine. Italian agriculture is avid in the North in terms of crop harvests but in the more arid & rocky southern regions the farming consists mostly of Olives & other forms vegetables suited to prosper in the rougher terrain.

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Spain

Northern and central Iberia comprises the majority of the Peninsula,Iberian territory also includes two sets of islands, the Balearic Islands (Spanish, Islas Baleares) in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands (Spanish, Canarias) in the Atlantic Ocean. The Northernmost part of the Peninsular is mostly low and cavernous mountains & valleys, the interior of the center of Iberia consists of a central plateau known as the Meseta Central, which is enclosed by high mountains on its north, south, east, and part of its western sides. The area that is predominantly plateau also encompasses several mountain systems that are lower than the peripheral or outer mountains. Although Iberia thus has physical characteristics that make it, to some extent, a natural & secular in contrast to continental Europe , there are also features that are more internal & tend to compartmentalize Iberia furthermore.
The characteristics in terrain also generate a variety of climatic regimes throughout Iberia. However, most of Iberia still experiences a continental climate of hot, dry summers and rather harsh, cold winters. Where these conditions prevail, the soils have eroded, vegetation is sparse, and agriculture is difficult. Irrigation is practiced where possible, but it is difficult because the flow in most streams is seasonally irregular, and the stream beds of larger rivers are frequently much lower than the adjacent terrain.