If France threatens Swedish allies in the HRE Sweden will change tack very quickly.
Also is there any chance of the Netherlands forming the nucleus in which the HRE re-shapes itself from by the 19th century?
Nobunaga’s Ambition Realized: Dawn of a New Rising Sun
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Also is there any chance of the Netherlands forming the nucleus in which the HRE re-shapes itself from by the 19th century?
Depending on who it is, Sweden might just drop them simply because what they can offer isn't as good as what France can offer(aka lots of money and keeping the HRE focused on them). Foreign policy is never set stone and even the more idealistic rulers can and have acted on real politik and so far, no other country can offer what France is offering.
I do think if France becomes too big it spooks the countries around it, and it would still make way too many countries be scared of France and band together as a result.
True many wars in european history were alliances to avoid one nation from becoming to powerful and threaten the others like the napoleonic wars
It depends on who and tbh many of them are already hostile but can't exactly offer much: England is weaker than otl, Dutch won't be able to compete with French numbers, Spain is going through it's decline stage and chronic bankruptcy and only the HRE can really offer a threat but hey, that's why France has allies on Sweden and the Ottomans to stir up things, not to mention that someone like the electorate of Cologne can't exactly properly resist when France is quickly in his town nor would the elector of Saxony be interested in fighting France, so it would mainly be Austria and whoever other local lords she can summon, which start it's own web of intrigues and new allies for France given what happened to Bavaria in the War of Spanish Sucession
Chapter 120: Survey of Daimyo in the Era of Nobuhiro
Chapter 120: Survey of Daimyo in the Era of Nobuhiro
After the torch was passed to Oda Nobuhiro at last in 1665, the fate and affairs of Japan saw ups and downs defined by war, trade, factionalism, and recovery. While Azuchi certainly felt all of these variables firsthand and determined the topline of the realm to a large extent, the feudal nature meant that daimyo lords and overseas governors wielded local control and collectively influenced the state of Japan through their own individual successes, failures, and dynamics.
The death of Sakuma Moritora after 1672 left a hole not only in the ranks of the Japanese military apparatus but also amongst the daimyo of the Kanto and Oshu regions. In his own domain, he was succeeded by his son Moritsuna (佐久間盛綱) who had very little military experience but proved to be a competent steward of his father’s domestic legacy, continuing to grow Sakata as a growing city and a primary outpost for the northern fur trade. However, he died only 7 years later at the age of 33, leaving his 7 year old son Morichiyo (盛千代) [1] at the head of the clan and his senior retainers to govern the domain on behalf of the new child lord. Outside the borders of the Sakuma domain in southern Dewa province, Nanbu Shigenobu established himself as the most senior and influential lord in the Oshu region, although no one could truly fill the shoes the Tiger of the North left empty. Nevertheless, Shigenobu’s prestige as a secondary leader of the Hokushin-ha and his brother’s high position in the Japanese navy was more than enough for him to attain Moritora’s old position of Chinjufu-shogun. As the new chinjufu shogun, the Nanbu lord provided the shogunal cavalry with horses from his domain, which were reputed to be some of the fastest in the entire realm. As a daimyo lord, Shigenobu pursued a high-export economic strategy for his domain due to the frequency of local famines exacerbated by the frigid climate in the region. Although this initially involved supporting merchants in making Hachinohe (八戸) a key port in the fur trade and fishermen in expanding their catches and exports, a ji-shoukai centered around shipbuilding and timber would be established after the naval reforms of Tagawa Seikou with the support of Shigenobu’s younger brother and naval commander Naofusa.
The death of Sakuma Moritora after 1672 left a hole not only in the ranks of the Japanese military apparatus but also amongst the daimyo of the Kanto and Oshu regions. In his own domain, he was succeeded by his son Moritsuna (佐久間盛綱) who had very little military experience but proved to be a competent steward of his father’s domestic legacy, continuing to grow Sakata as a growing city and a primary outpost for the northern fur trade. However, he died only 7 years later at the age of 33, leaving his 7 year old son Morichiyo (盛千代) [1] at the head of the clan and his senior retainers to govern the domain on behalf of the new child lord. Outside the borders of the Sakuma domain in southern Dewa province, Nanbu Shigenobu established himself as the most senior and influential lord in the Oshu region, although no one could truly fill the shoes the Tiger of the North left empty. Nevertheless, Shigenobu’s prestige as a secondary leader of the Hokushin-ha and his brother’s high position in the Japanese navy was more than enough for him to attain Moritora’s old position of Chinjufu-shogun. As the new chinjufu shogun, the Nanbu lord provided the shogunal cavalry with horses from his domain, which were reputed to be some of the fastest in the entire realm. As a daimyo lord, Shigenobu pursued a high-export economic strategy for his domain due to the frequency of local famines exacerbated by the frigid climate in the region. Although this initially involved supporting merchants in making Hachinohe (八戸) a key port in the fur trade and fishermen in expanding their catches and exports, a ji-shoukai centered around shipbuilding and timber would be established after the naval reforms of Tagawa Seikou with the support of Shigenobu’s younger brother and naval commander Naofusa.
Portrait of Nanbu Shigenobu
Just north was Ezo where the Kakizaki clan contended and interacted with the indigenous Ainu tribes while also gradually growing . For most of the 17th century, the main line was plagued by relatively weak heads, including Takahiro and Norihiro, due to their short lifespans. As a result, the cadet branches of the clan that had begun ruling autonomous fiefs under the arrangements Kakizaki Kinhiro had set in the 1630s had relative free reign. They ran their domestic affairs and relationships with the Ainu, working together when necessary for the clan at large but also often squabbling with one another. The autonomous fiefs also strived to attract settlers from Honshu either interested in starting a new life or profiting from the fur trade. However, the decentralized nature of the Kakizaki clan, the harsh climate, and the strength of the remaining independent Ainu hindered growth, with only the western part of the island truly witnessing de facto Japanese control despite Azuchi’s claims over the entire island. This would be further complicated by the formation of a united Menashir Ainu polity in the late 17th century by the chieftain Shakushain [2] that sought to contain Japanese expansion through deterrence and diplomacy while also maintaining friendly trade relations with fur traders, even those affiliated with Oshu daimyo. In short, Ezo remained a contentious landscape lacking unity for one power to achieve dominance
The Kanto plain, meanwhile, thrived, its landscape largely spared the devastation of the Manji War and its daimyo only narrowly escaping deployments to the mainland against the Lesser Jin and Joseon. The vast flat landscape was perfect for agriculture and over time the entire region would become one of the chief breadbaskets of the realm, Kanto agricultural products being transported overland and by sea across the home islands and even beyond. The agricultural boom of the region led to a population boom as well, dotting the Kanto plain with prosperous farming towns and coastal ports. No part of the Kanto plain symbolized this more than the province of Hitachi, ruled by the prominent Satake clan and the smaller Minagawa clan and agriculturally the most productive province in all of Japan. In addition to rice, buckwheat, lotus roots, and soybeans were chief crops grown in the province The larger of the two domains in Hitachi province, ruled by Satake Yoshizumi (佐竹義処) in 1682, had risen in power and prominence ever since the Oda Kamakura-fu was dismantled and the Hojo clan lost its regional preeminence in the aftermath of the Furuwatari War. As a result, the domain capital of Mito (水戸) grew into a regional urban center of its own.
Retroactive depiction of Azuchi period Mito and Mito Castle (水戸城)
Further in the center was Musashi province, home to the Musashino clan, formerly the Oda cadet branch that ruled the entirety of the plain as Kamakura tandai. Similar to Hitachi province, Musashi province had flowered into an agricultural heartland, being at the heart of the Kanto plain and sharing a coast with the Uchiumi (内海) [3]. The already fertile landscape was further expanded through a series of drainage projects directed by Toshinao and Toshikatsu aimed at converting marshland into farmland. The domain capital, Musashino, was the second largest city on the Kanto plain, only behind Kamakura, and was also at the crossroads of several major land routes. Beyond Musashino, the clan also attempted to build up Edo (江戸) as a major port, although their efforts proved mostly unsuccessful and Shimoda and Kamakura continued to be the major ports of the Kanto region. Part of what was instrumental behind the prosperity and stability of Musashi province was the clan’s successful fusion of hereditary retainers with ex-Hojo ones who were left behind when others moved to Izu province or became minor lords in Shimousa province. The successful integration of those who once fought each other helped forge a new future for the centerpiece of the Kanto plain.
The main Oda lands of Owari, Mino, Yamashiro, southern Oumi, and Izumi provinces also underwent major changes in governance throughout the 17th century. Out of them, Mino, Owari, and southern Oumi were traditionally ruled by the Oda heir from Gifu, with Yamashiro and Izumi provinces being governed by a mix of magistrates and nobles owing to them being host to Kyoto and Sakai respectively. However, when Nobutsugu died in 1653 and left the clan to the 5 year old Nobuhiro, the subsequent regencies appointed governors to take over the responsibility the heir usually took up. This change would be permanent, for even after the birth of Nobuie this arrangement continued and the heir now lived in Azuchi alongside his father, the daijo-daijin. Although the new status quo was yet another factor behind the stagnation of Gifu with the absence of the heir, it also enabled the political and economic re-emergence of Kiyosu, the minor lords of Owari visiting and patronizing the latter city as an administrative and commercial center more than before. These changes also did not alter the bureaucratic pipeline that had allowed samurai from the core Oda lands to make up a disproportionate portion of the Azuchi bureaucracy.
Finally, in the latter half of the 17th century, a new generation of Christian daimyo emerged, making their presence felt in a fashion not seen since the suppression of Catholicism during the Iberian-Japanese War. These Christian lords, however, were part of the ever-flourishing Yamato Church and also stuck to Azuchi’s principles of religious tolerance, preventing the suppression of Shinto-Buddhism. Nevertheless, the religious identification of the lord did increase the presence of the faith in the most prominent of these Christian lords, Ukita Nobumasa of Bizen and Mimasaka provinces. Nobumasa had converted to Christianity in 1667, becoming the first member of the Ukita clan to do so. Under the rule of his grandfather, the famous Nobuie, the Yamato Church had already established a firm presence in the Ukita domain, owning tracts of vineyard for wine production, and the conversion of Nobumasa only added on. In addition to cultivating and patronizing Yamato Christianity, Nobumasa continued to bolster his domain a proto-industrial powerhouse, operating ji-shoukai centered around Bizen ware (備前焼) production and tatara steel smelting (たたら製鉄).
Depiction of the working of the bellows of a tatara furnace
In contrast to the recent interactions between the Ukita clan and the Yamato church, the Otomo clan had maintained a relationship with Christianity for over 100 years, the entire clan being part of the Yamato Church by this point. Nevertheless, the 17th century had been a bumpy century for the Otomo clan, as the main line of the clan had died out with the death of Yoshinori (大友義乗) in 1612 and the fate of the clan lay with his heirless uncle Tahara Chikamori. It was during this time that northern Kyushu dealt with the transition from Catholicism to Yamato Christianity, the Otomo clan itself forced to convert to the new non-Roman church and eradicate dissident Kirishitans amongst the populace. After this rather gloomy era accompanied by some level of destruction, Chikamori died in 1643, succeeded by a distant descendant of Otomo Yoshimune to attain the adult name Yoshitaka. As he grew up, Yoshitaka guided his clan through the Manji War, strategically siding with Kanbe Tomoyoshi when the latter landed in Kagoshima in opposition to Azuchi. He would come to rule over a rejuvenated domain at its most cohesive and prosperous in decades, trade flowing through the Kanmon Straits and the Yamao Church at a historical peak.
[1]: Child name, adult name would be Sakuma Morimochi (佐久間盛茂).
[2]: The same Shakushain that led a 1669 uprising IOTL.
[3]: Old name of OTL’s Tokyo Bay, name doesn’t change ITTL.
I may fit in a religion update somewhere soon, I'm working on chapters on cultural developments and Bireitou as well as general foreign updates.
There are some drivers of technology advancement ITTL that were absent or less significant IOTL. These include the continued widespread use of firearms, increased foreign and domestic trade, and competition with and adoption of European commercial and military technology. These will push forward developments in factories, shipyards, division of labor, interchangeable parts, metallurgy, and machine tools. If there is greater demand for coal due to increased manufacturing and the decrees of forest management, they may face the same issue of dewatering mines that led to the invention of steam technology in Europe. With England lagging behind its place compared to OTL, it is up in the air who will be leading the Industrial Revolution.
Given how stronger they seem to be ITTL, I could definitely see it happening
Depends. If Louis XIV is running the show, then hopefully like in OTL he oversaw the reform of Royal government finances. Of course, at the end...
The problem is that Japan doesn't have much coal at all. If they need much coal, they're going to have to import it.
Hello,
If placed in the context of 21st century standards, then imports have to make up the shortfall. However, if industrial expansion does take place within the 18th century, then local sources could meet needs in the short term...
Perspective Chapter: The Japanese Coal Mining Industry Reconsidered – From Mechanized Longwall Mining to Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
This chapter investigates the role of the Japanese coal mining industry in global coal mining development. In the twenty-first century, the Japanese coal mining industry was a marginal contributor to global production, with an annual domestic production of only 750,000 tons. However, as...
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They do and their finances are actually stronger because compared to OTL, less war is conducted less frequently.Depends. If Louis XIV is running the show, then hopefully like in OTL he oversaw the reform of Royal government finances. Of course, at the end...
France still clings on to a feudal aristocractic system like IOTL and is thus less malleable to change. However, the French East India Company is much bigger and more profitable at this point compared to OTL which may set up France for the better.
Describing the Japanese economy is gonna be a Herculean mind jumble down the line because there's going to be significant divergence that's gonna have to be explained in the abstract to a degree. Talking about war and politics is easier in that sense, and a lot of domestic Japanese culture in the home islands is nearly identical so a lot of that would be adjustments here and there to fit the narrative and overall shifts since the PoD.Hello,
If placed in the context of 21st century standards, then imports have to make up the shortfall. However, if industrial expansion does take place within the 18th century, then local sources could meet needs in the short term...
So, perhaps before the end of that century and steam technology does develop, then imports will have to follow.Perspective Chapter: The Japanese Coal Mining Industry Reconsidered – From Mechanized Longwall Mining to Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
This chapter investigates the role of the Japanese coal mining industry in global coal mining development. In the twenty-first century, the Japanese coal mining industry was a marginal contributor to global production, with an annual domestic production of only 750,000 tons. However, as...
Tbh it was in serious decline, especially under Louis XIV where he essentially broke the power of the nobility and was increasingly favouring merchants and small nobility in order to better run the realm and depending on how succession goes, a competent ruler can continue that trend even harder(as long as they're not Louis XV)
It will still be very interesting to see it explained and how it diverges, a more merchant and sea oriented Japan that slowly eclipses the landed gentry will have major political consequences
I mean I don’t expect the Industrial Revolution to start soon so anything can happen.
Especially if they maintain or expand their control in Wallonia, the coal mines there would become vital.