Revised History of the Empire of Labyrnna

1581 - Iberian Union established under Philip II.

1590 - POINT OF DIVERGENCE. A Portuguese noble who would eventually take the title of Aphras I led a revolt in the Portuguese provinces of the Union, beginning the Labyrnnan War.

1591 - Aphras I gathered strength in Portugal and eventually seized control of major Portuguese cities, placing his capital in Lisbon.

1592 - Aphras I launched an attack on the major cities of southern Spain, seizing the rich cities of Granada, Cordoba and Seville from the weakening Spanish state.

1593 - Aphras I began the Siege of Toledo, where Philip II ruled. The siege lasted 50 days, and after starving the city, Philip II manages to flee from his former capital. Aphras I moves his capital to Toledo, which he renames Lynna City.

1595 - Aphras I spent the next two years consolidating power in the highlands of Castile and Leon, promising the many powerful nobles lavish estates in exchange for support of Labyrnnan forces. With the flight of Philip II to Saragossa and weakening support for the weak Kingdom of Spain, many flock to the popular Labyrnnan movement.

1597 - Aphras I sends forces to Saragossa, determined to gain control of the rest of the Kingdom of Spain. In desperation, Philip II pleaded with the nations of Europe to provide forces to save him from what he described as "heathens".

1598 - Siege of Saragossa ends when Philip II is captured and executed outside the city with the legendary blade, Justicia. In response to this heinous action, France and some Italian states decided to send a collective army into the Iberian Peninsula.

1599 - The Second Siege of Saragossa begins as the army crosses the Pyrenees. The siege was brutal, but a brilliant counterattack by Labyrnnan forces emerging from what had been Castille relieved the siege. In a panic, many of the troops broke rank and attempted to flee the areas surrounding the city. Labyrnnan forces responded by capturing and destroying many of the units as they became encircled.

1600 - The retreating armies fled towards the Pyrenees in a blind panic, and Aphras I ensured that the passes were guarded to prevent escape. With the powerful Spanish navy guarding the coastline, the armies were forced to accept terms of surrender and recognize the rise of the new state.

1601 - Aphras I crowned himself Emperor of Labyrnna in Lynna City, and began the process of breaking apart the various kingdoms that had been prominent in the Iberian Peninsula. The Kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Portugal, Navarre and Leon were all abolished and were turned into centralized provinces that could be more effectively governed. In order to placate the surely angered nobles, they were rewarded with tax exemptions and estates, noting well that the inflows from its colonies would be able to finance the nation.

1603- During this time, a Portuguese noble who had disagreed extensively with the new Emperor Aphras I fled his homeland and set sail for Asia, seeking new riches. This man's name was Filipe de Brite e Nicote. Surrounded by a small number of well-armed soldiers and peasants who were forced into the service of Nicote, he eventually reach what would become Olitria. There, he encountered the city Padmanyath, and after a brief siege, the city fell to the rebel noble's forces. News of this eventually reached Labyrnna, but nothing could really be done to reclaim the city due to the rebuilding still occurring throughout the Peninsula.

1605 - Aphras I had a son, who would eventually take the title of Leo I.

1613- After 10 years of rule, Filipe de Brite e Nicote was overthrown by the natives in a violent manner. The control of the city fell back to Olitria.

1624 - Aphras I died in his sleep. Leo I accepts the crown of Labyrnna.

1649 - Alfonso I takes the throne from his father, who toke a vow of poverty and entered into a monastery in the colonies. He would eventually create a new influential order of monks that would have great influence in the New World.

1652- After a quiet beginning to his rule, Alfonso I begins focusing on the domestic economy. The over-reliance on American gold and silver, as well as the overall focus on the colonies before the Labyrnnan War, was something that he sought to rectify. He began by lowering some of the crippling taxes on the peasantry, and then cutting some of the benefits to the nobles. While this earned the ire of some of the nobles, commerce began to flourish in ports throughout the nation.

1654- Alfonso I begins to frequently slip away from the Imperial Palace in order to blend in with the rest of the populace. He used the information gained from these trips to make future policies regarding the people. While he went away, his son, who would be crowned Alfonso II, would gain valuable experience governing. The only people who knew of Alfonso's absences were his son and his ministers.

1655- With new funds coming from the colonies and further funds gained from the new taxes (while still being rather minimal) on the nobles, Alfonso I began a nationwide program to re-build and create new roads throughout the nation. Many of the roads were either small or crowded, and Alfonso I had noted this many times throughout his travels. He made several roads connecting the capital with the major cities of the nation, in particular the flourishing cities of the south. Having new roads connecting the capital to the ports where valuable cargo had been gained from the colonies, Lynna City began a new age of expansion and growth.

1659- The Aragonese Insurrection began. Former Aragonese nobles, unhappy with the removal of the lavish benefits granted to nobility, began a revolt in the city of Saragossa. The people were not sympathetic to the cause, having been prospering as a result of the new changes, and the citizens of the city, after a brief holding of the city for a few days, rose up against the nobles and pushed them out to the countryside. As Labyrnnan troops responded, the small armies of the nobles, consisting of themselves and a few hundred peasants still forced into service, were destroyed. The Emperor himself rode into battle, and afterwards, he lamented on the loss of fellow Labyrnnans.

1662- After this victory, Alfonso I, concerned about the possibility of more revolts by disgruntled nobles, began a Cortes. This was the first precursor to the Houses of Legislature, and it was very much so undemocratic, concerned with the hereditary nobles only. Perhaps this was a mistake on Alfonso I's part, but he believed that for the time being, the people were not capable of governance. No matter the case, the Cortes of Nobles sought to quell future noble rebellions by allowing them to directly voice their concerns.

1666- The unholy Year of the Beast brought great fear to many Labyrnnans. The powerful clergy frequently stated that this was the year where the world would end, and that it would end in an unholy baptism of flame. Many were concerned about what could happen, however, it passed without such hellish incidents. Despite this, however, the Emperor Alfonso I died this year. He would be succeeded by his second son, Alfonso II.

1667- Alfonso II's reign begins very quietly. The Treasury began to build up with precious metals from the Americas, and public spending on infrastructure, such as roads, public services, and agriculture, continues at a steady rate.

1668- After minor skirmishes with Vicintia over tariffs for Labyrnnan merchants seeking to trade in Asia, a small force was sent to invade the capital of the empire, Suleyk. Expecting an easy victory given the ease of invading the nation, the Labyrnnan soldiers were shocked when the Vicintians launched a vicious counterattack. It was not known at the time that they were the descendants of the powerful Vektans that held the southern tip of South America, because otherwise, the Labyrnnans would have thought twice about this invasion. Nevertheless, this lack of awareness of the strength of the Vicintian forces caused a massive defeat for Labyrnna. After this horrendous defeat, the Empire retaliated by sending forces to cease the Vicintian colonies that had cropped up over what is Mozambique. After taking control of the two main colonies in the region, Vivec and Raven's Rock, the Labyrnnan forces consolidated and blocked an attempt to reinforce Vicintian positions in Mozambique.

1669- With all of Central and South America, barring Vektes, where Labyrnnan settlers regarding the strange, yet advanced citizens there with some awe, firmly under the rule of the Empire, a re-organization of the Americas began. Alfonso II began by dividing and recombining previous provinces. The Vice-Royalty of New Labyrnna (New Spain) remained largely unchanged, but stopped near the Yucatan. The Vice-Royalty of Arcadia was created in Central America, largely in the areas of the United Arcadian Republic. The Vice-Royalty of America was created in largely Falonia's territory. The Vice-Royalty of Caribbean was created from the Labyrnnan Caribbean possession, most of Venezuela and the Guyanas. The Vice-Royalty of Amazon was created in most of northern Kuvia, while southern Brazil was placed in the Vice-Royalty of New Portugal. A final Vice-Royalty, the Vice-Royalty of Paraguay, was created with near identical borders to the current nation of Grosse kaltblutig reich.

1670- After building up forces in its newly seized colonies, it sends a massive armada rivaling that of the cursed Spanish Armada over a century ago. However, it was to suffer a similar fate, as when it attempted to reach the core of Vicintia, it was caught by surprise by a massive attack at the port of Vivec. The armada was almost completely wiped out, however, it was not all lost, as Vicintian casualties were high enough that they could not even consider invading and claiming their lost colonies. This created a bitter stalemate in the region, with a great deal of money and lives lost by the Labyrnnans, but the upside of having a new prosperous colony.

1672- The new reformation of the colonial Empire brought with it a great purge of corrupt officials, and with new officials reporting directly to the Emperor, the colonial system became much more efficient than what it had been. However, the Emperor was concerned with the plight of many Labyrnann settlers, and he announced two new policies: 1) Travel to the colonies would be subsidized to encourage a continued presence in the New World, 2) A lot of the arcane restrictions placed on settlers would be removed, and mining for silver and gold was de-emphasised, instead also wanting to focus on agriculture and industry. As a result of this, many new cities prospered, having been removed from the cruel life that would occur if they were forced to mine.

1673- It was around this time that some colonizers from the city of Lisbon set off to colonize new territories to the north of what had become Labyrnnan Mozambique. There, they encountered natives from what would become Suvalu. Completely unprepared, these colonists were violently rebuffed and forced out of the new lands. Faced with failure, the colonists fled back to Mozambique and lived in abject poverty and shame.

1675- The powers of the nobles in the colonies was severely curtailed, with the bureaucracies of the colonies being open to those who took examinations. These examinations would be hosted in the colonial capital, and those with sufficient results would be inducted. While this would still cause some corruption, this helped to greatly alleviate the painfully slow processes of the colonial bureaucracy.

1678- The importation of slaves into the New World was officially banned. While this order would be ignored by some, it was largely followed. The Emperor made such an edict, claiming that Labyrnnans were hardy and intelligent enough to survive the rough lives that the colonies initially had to offer before stooping so low as to rely on the services of those who were mostly stronger than them. Many colonists moaned about the loss of labor, but the colonial bureaucracies instituted this order with diligence and efficiency.

1680- With the new reformations to colonial administration and the increased incentives, many Labyrnnans settled all across the colonies. The colonies had never been more prosperous, as the influx of hard-working Labyrnnans largely negated the losses that slavery would have provided. While some plantations continued to use slavery illegally, these plantations were raided by the colonial administration and released. Despite their freedom, many freed slaves faced prejudice.

1684- Alfonso I's very pious nature resulted in him consulting with the Cardinals of his empire very often. It came to the point where his own ministers were largely replaced or became unimportant. As a result of this, the Church reaped the benefits by receiving huge amounts of land donated by the Emperor. The Catholic Church had never more prosperous in the Empire. While many Labyrnnans were pious and devout, this concerned some who were more educated, thinking that some of this land could have been given to settlers.

1685- With the colonial administrations largely reformed, the Emperor finally decided to look inward. He found that largely, the ports were bustling, the countryside was protected, and that the inland cities thrived. Despite this, there remained work to be done. After some insurrections of the powerful Bourbon France into the Empire, the Emperor ordered the construction of new fortresses along the stalwart Pyrenees. These fortresses would take decades to complete.

1688- Alfonso II died of a localized plague outbreak that hit the central plains of Labyrnna. Despite the best efforts of Labyrnnan doctors, he succumbed to the plague. The Emperor will always be remembered as the man who reformed the colonies. Thankfully for the House of Vigyls, his only son was administering the Vice-Royalty of the Caribbean from Havana at the time. As soon as word emerged that his father died, he rushed home. In the meantime, the leading Cardinal Leonardo Escarra remained in charge of the nation, as Alfonso II's son was his only remaining descendant. This would lead to disaster.

1689- Knowing that Alfonso II's son would not arrive for some time, Cardinal Escarra began consolidating his rule. He began to funnel huge amounts of money into the Catholic Church and his own pockets, while neglecting the public payments towards the colonies and the peasants. This caused a great deal of hatred among the people of Labrynna, and the Church continued to bloat itself. Many Labyrnnans wondered how Alfonso II could allow such a corrupt man to become so powerful. As Alfonso II's son, crowned Ferdinand I in the city of Cadiz, he knew that it would not be easy to de-throne the new tyrant.

1690- The Holy War for Labyrnna. The corrupt Cardinal Escarra ruled from Lynna City, constantly broadcasting his messages of propaganda to the devout (who were many) through the churches in the nation and the colonies. As a result, many began to support the Cardinal, claiming that he was a gift from God and that he would rule Labyrnna with a divine mandate. Ferdinand I, meanwhile, began to consolidate himself in southern Labyrnna and Portugal, much like the founder of his House, Aphras I. He knew that it woul be a brutal fight to take back Lynna City, so he began touring the countryside, attempting to regain the support of the populace.

1691- Battle of Valencia. After besieging the city, Cardinal Escarra proclaimed that God would save them from the horrors of the Labyrnnan Army. Despite this, Ferdinand I denounced the Cardinal as a heretic. This would become a stalemate that would last for a year. However, an edict from Pope Innocent XII denounced Cardinal Escarra exactly as such, saying that he had fallen from the path of God and that he was under the influence of the Devil. When news of this reached Labyrnna, the city of Valencia revolted against Heretical rule (as it will be named), and allowed in the Loyalist Army to the city.

1692- After mass desertions throughout the Empire, the Loyalist forces marched towards Lynna City. Support evaporated throughout most of the Empire, with the entirety of northeastern Labyrnna declaring their loyalty to the Emperor. The Battle of Lynna City began, with the Loyalist forces viciously attacking the walls of the city. The defenders, being small in number and lacking much food, dug in for what they hoped would be a long siege.

1693- The Emperor began the New Year by stating that the city would fall in no more than a week. He was correct in his declaration. After mass starvation, the populace revolted against the Heretics. Though it was brutally suppressed, the damage was done. Finally, Loyalist troops breached the walls and streamed into the city. The Holy War for Labyrnna ended in total defeat for the Heretics, and Cardinal Escarra was unceremoniously decapitated by Ferdinand II's legendary blade, Reluciente.

1694- The year after the Holy War was a tough one for the Empire. Much rebuilding was necessary, particularly in the capital. However, the Emperor was confident that he had the support of the people, and he presented a plan before the Cortes of Nobles. He stated that taxes would be increased on nobles for a period of 10 years, citing the necessity to rebuild the nation. Anxious to see peace restore and much of the infrastructure necessary to keep their pockets full, they consented. Thus, the rebuilding of Lynna City began, and it would transform into a glorious city.

1695- Much of the slums of Lynna City were demolished. Many of them were already depopulated due to mass starvation and flight to the countryside, and any person who attempted to remain were incentivized to leave, as estates and payments from the government were promised. As a result, these slums were replaced with grand broad avenues and glimmering buildings, palaces, ministries and places of public service all alike. This was seen on the grandest scale in Lynna City, but the rest of the Empire was not ignored. Many damaged cities, such as Valencia and the cities on the plains of central Labyrnna were rebuilt and repaired to the point where they greatly eclipsed their previous forms.

1696- In an effort to prevent such actions by rebellious ministers and clergy alike, Ferdinand I proposed some radical changes. Ministers would become formalized as opposed to the informal nature of ministers as before. As a result, the Emperor copied the model in the colonies and created centers for Imperial Examinations. As a result, only the best would be able to be selected as Ministers. The Ministers were formally created under three positions: Foreign Affairs, War, and Economic Affairs. These ministers could be removed by the Emperor at any time, however, by compartmentalizing the duties of ministers, it prevents a single minister from accruing too much power.

1698- Rebuilding largely finished at this point, except for the most grandiose projects. Ferdinand I, forever remembered as the Builder, finally continued on the fortresses in the Pyrenees. There had been a long pause in the building of these because of the Holy War, so he re-started work on them immediately. The armies of Louis XIV had become increasingly aggressive, attempting forays into the Empire repeatedly. These fortresses were largely near completion, so it required only the last bits of construction.

1700- The fortresses, known famously as the Iron Wall of the Pyrenees (being neither a wall nor of iron, but alas, history is history), had great success in stopping further attacks. With this border secure, the Emperor looked to his possessions in Italy. Seeing that the Empire's position in Milan was unattainable, he sold the lands to the Venetian Republic. This action would have future repercussions and eventually lead to the rise of the Venetian Republic establishing hegemony over Italy. Of course, Ferdinand I could have never had the foresight to see this. He, however, looked to Labyrnnan possessions in Naples and Sicily.

1701- Ferdinand I began a program encouraging immigration to Naples and Sicily as well as the colonies in an effort to maintaining a Labyrnnan presence in these foreign lands. Many Neapolitians had regarded the Labyrnnans simply as the new overlord that would brutally run their state on the backs of very poor peasants while giving them nothing. Ferdinand I was embarrassed to see that his ancestors had ignored the Neapolitians and Sicilians for so long, so he instituted a few changes. Taxes were massively lowered on peasants, and new agricultural techniques were given to these poor peasants, and Neapolitian/Sicilian nobles who abused the peasants were exiled to the Papal States. The removal of these burdens allowed the peasantry to have a sigh of relief. The peasants were thankful for this, and their support to Labyrnna would remain so for centuries to come.

1703- With increased immigration to southern Italy, Labyrnnans and Neapolitians began to marry and have kids. Labyrnnan also started to be used as the lingua franca of the region, though the Neapolitian dialect of Italian was still used very commonly. This would have resounding impacts in the future.

1704- The taxes on nobles went down as promised to the Cortes of Nobles after 10 years had passed. However, the Empire was standing much better than it had before-hand. It was flush with funds from the nobles, continued trade with the colonies, and the money gained from the sale of Milan. The reign of Ferdinand I had a very rocky start, but now, the Empire could not be more secure.

1707- A new Ministry, the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, was added to the Council of Ministers. This was done to address the simmering of some radical students and those of higher learning who sought more autonomy, and in the case of some, independence. This minister, in an unprecedented first, came with the stipulation that anybody who held this position would have to come from the colonies. As a result, the first Minister of Colonial Affairs was recruited from the Vice-Royalty of New Labyrnna. He instituted further trade policies between the Empire and the colonies, and he also continued the service of public services to the growing cities of the New World. This move quelled those radicals, and the support of the colonies remained very strong.

1710- Portuguese Revolt. A group of Portuguese nobles, leaving the Cortes of Nobles angrily after one meeting, returned to the provinces of Portugal and declared their independence. They fled to Lisbon and attempted to consolidate power. Many Labyrnnans in the provinces of Portugal revolted against the return of harsh rule by the nobles. The wrath of Ferdinand I was swift, seeking to quell any and all revolts before they harmed many Labyrnnans like the Holy War had. As a result, the Emperor himself strode out into battle, meeting the revolt at Alandroal. The Battle of Alandroal was a lopsided massacre, and the nobles were summarily captured, imprisoned, tried, and executed.

1711- After this revolt, many of the nobles in the Cortes of Nobles knew not to revolt against the Emperor. At this stage, Ferdinand I, the Builder, also came to be known as Ferdinand I, the Warrior. While many in the Cortes of Nobles reacted with disdain towards their fellow Portuguese nobles who had betrayed the Empire, a few nobles who had contemplated revolt knew that they would be met with a swift end to Reluciente.

1713- After increasing piracy in the Barbary States, Labyrnnan naval ships began raiding these areas much in the same way that they had harassed Labyrnnan maritime trade. In particular, Labyrnna, seeking to control the Strait of Gibraltar, focused extensively on the cities of Morocco. Ceuta, Melilla, and Tangier were all besieged and conquered, beginning Labyrnna's choke hold over the Straits. The administrators of these cities were largely left intact for the time being to prevent public uprising. Meanwhile, the Barbary States, facing sufficient enough raiding, reduced the intensity of their raiding greatly.

1716- After the death of the powerful Louis XIV in France, Labyrnna breathed a sigh of relief. The incessant attacks on the Iron Walls was a waste of resources, but Labyrnna would bide its time in retaliation. In the meantime, Labyrnna prospered. Trade between the colonies and Labyrnna continued to grow, and both benefited immensely. Trade between Labyrnna and the rest of Morocco through the newly conquered cities in Morocco exploded, bringing a huge influx of new goods. This overall benefited the population greatly, and Labyrnna's Golden Age truly began.

1720- Great works of literature and art were created in Labyrnna during this time, and spread heavily throughout Europe. Several cultural centers, especially in the cities of Lynna City, Barcelona, and Saragossa, drew in people from all across Europe and North Africa. It was during this time that Labrynnan was starting to be used in places outside of the Empire as a common language, especially replacing French as the lingua franca of many European nations.

1722- Ferdinand I, after a long, painful yet prosperous rule, died of a heart attack. He was succeeded by his son, who was crowned as Ferdinand II.

1723- Ferdinand II was very much a bureaucrat at heart, as he had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under his father. Thus, he sought to expand the bureaucracy to meet the increasing needs of the Empire. He felt the need to create the Ministry of Central Intelligence due to concerns of security within the Empire, and this was established for this reason. He also expanded the other Ministries, in particular dividing the Department of War internally by establishing different commands for the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Army. He also expanded the Ministry of Economic Affairs to begin performing a census that would be conducted every 10 years. Thus, the first census was taken in 1730, and every 10 years from that point onwards.

1725- Each of the Vice-Royalties were prospering at this time, with many new cities having sprouted up in the last 50 years. The administrative capitals of each vice-royalty attracted thousands to it, and there were many who sought to take the Imperial Examinations in order to gain a chance to work for the colonial administration. Despite this, the private sector was very much thriving. For many who were still tied to the countryside and agriculture, they still produced a great deal and traded what they had in excess. Meanwhile, craftsmen and laborers created things for themselves to use in the colonies, but also sought to trade to the Empire what they had in excess. Labyrnna benefited greatly from this, while the colonies continued to grow.

1727- Economic prosperity continued in the Empire. However, a storm was brewing east of the Empire. The Republic of Venice, powered by the prosperity of its newly-gained territories in Lombardy, began massing up forces in its Balkan territories. Due to a lack of a very strong empire in the region to prevent its growth into the Balkans, the Venetians launched the Balkan Campaign during this year. It sought to subjugate territories that had fallen into the hands of the Austrian Empire.

1728- Venetian troops advanced from its Adriatic bases and stormed into Austrian territories. Seeking international allies from a continent that still largely abhorred the Empire, the Empire agreed to supply the Venetian Republic in exchange for international recognition and trade. The Republic was all too eager to take this deal, and Labyrnnan arms flowed to Venice. This emboldened the Venetian soldiers greatly.

1730- The Balkan Campaign was a stunning success, and the Austrian Empire had taken an enormous blow. The Hungarian subjects of the Austrian Empire were none too pleased about these developments, and this in-fighting allowed the Venetians to consolidate their position there. This caused a notable shift in the balance of power within the region, and Labyrnna had gained a key ally in European affairs. This relationship would become increasingly close as time progressed.

1731- After the successes of the Balkan Campaign by the Venetian Republic, the Empire began to seriously consider its position in international affairs. It clearly helped the Venetian Republic to become a regional power, and this would become one of the first of many different actions across the region. As a result of this, however, Labyrnnan delegates went to Venice and signed a Treaty of Friendship. The Doge of Venice was all too happy to become close friends and allies with the Empire.

1734- The mining of the rich iron deposits increased rapidly in both Spain and its colonies as its uses began to diversify. This was an early sign of the massive changes that industrialization would soon bring to the Empire. However, in the meantime, the Emperor continued his focus on the domestic economy, expanding roads, ports and ensuring that the Iberian Peninsula remained peaceful. The reign of Ferdinand II was not a particularly eventful one, and that is perhaps for the better.

1736- By this point, Labyrnnan became somewhat common to hear in the cities of southern Italy and Sicily. While this was certainly not the case in the countryside, where many continued to speak the Neapolitian dialect of Italian, the spread of the Labyrnnan language and its culture was due to the large number of people that were settling in the region. This was a remarkable change for the region, and this was all the result of what is now known as Labyrnnanisation.

1738- Louis XV, after consolidating power, launched an attack on the Iron Walls. This was largely due to his youth and bravado, but it was a futile one. The armies that he sent across the Pyrenees were summarily destroyed by heavy artillery fire. This massive defeat for France demoralized the nation that had suffered not only from crippling debt, but also from a military weakness that had not been seen in France in several decades. This would not bode well for France in its future. Meanwhile, the defeat of such a military power, no matter if it was simply the results of a single assault, was celebrated throughout the nation, particularly in the Aragonese provinces. Labyrnna's remarkable defenses seemed to be able to hold off anybody who attacked it.

1740- After some minor protests regarding the growing middle class's lack of representation in the Cortes of Nobles, a compromise was reached between the Emperor and the Cortes of Nobles. The Cortes of Nobles would serve as a body that would advise the Emperor, while the Cortes of the People would serve as a similar body. Both were strictly advisory bodies, but this proposal satisfied the nobles who held their closeness to the Emperor in high regard, while it also satisfied the middle class, as it finally gave them a way for them to be heard by the Emperor directly. This was the beginnings of the future Houses of Legislature.

1741- The first Cortes of the People was hand-picked by the Emperor, but it was stipulated that as opposed to the positions being hereditary (like the Cortes of Nobles), the Cortes of the People would be subject to elections over a certain time-span. This was chosen to be every two years. However, the question remains on who would be allowed to vote. This was decided to be done by a lottery of people based on the results of the Census, where a chosen group of 3000 people would elect from among themselves those that would serve on the Cortes of the People.

1742- After some colonists were concerned about their lack of representation, a limited number of electors were allocated to those who lived in the colonies. As a result, the group of electors expanded to about 4000 altogether, with the colonies being able to eligible for about 800 of those positions. Though this system was certainly biased towards the Empire, it did offer representation to the colonies at a time where most colonies had very little say in their own affairs. This placated those in the colonies, and support for the Empire continued to remain remarkably high.

1744- Ferdinand II died due to natural causes, having been sickly for much of his life. As he had been unable to have children before his death (some say that he was sterile), his younger brother was crowned as Carlos I.

1745- After a brief interlude from their conquests, the Venetian Republic had spent much of its time consolidating its new territories. The new equipment that it had, coupled with the new areas that allowed it to recruit a large amount of new soldiers into its forces, made it much more powerful than it had been before the war. Eager to continue to gain more power in the region, it launched an attack on the small duchies to the south of Milan. Being relatively powerless to stop the onslaught, these duchies were almost completely annihilated and absorbed into what was quickly becoming a Venetian hegemony. Italy was becoming very small, with Venice dominating the north, Florence and Savoy being uneasy about the prospect of the Venetian Republic, and the Labyrnnans silently waiting in the southern part of Italy.

1747- At this point in time, much of the European continent was growing fearful over the realignment going on. Labyrnna, though mostly quiet, was slowly consolidating strength. The Venetian Republic, supposedly doomed to a slow and horrible decline, suddenly re-emerged stronger than ever. This greatly concerned the greater empires of the region, particularly Austria, Prussia and Russia. This was combined the fact that the previous powerhouse of Western Europe, France, was becoming increasingly weak. Because of this, a general sense of opposition to Labyrnna and the Venetian Republic was forming. Despite this, however, intrigue and political machinations largely prevented a grand alliance from forming against either of them. This was helped partially due to the help of Labyrnnan diplomats easing the worries of some of the leaders in the East.

1750- Labyrnna announced yet another wave of colonization efforts, this time attempting to focus on the vast emptiness that was common in the northern portions of New Labyrnna. As a result of these efforts, a large number of Labyrnnans settled in new cities along the Californian coast and in the province of Tejas. The vast, fertile plains of the Central Valley in California were settled extensively, and this allowed the production of food to skyrocket. This benefited not only the colonists greatly, but as a result of trade to other Labyrnnan colonies and Labyrnna itself, the region of California quickly became one of the more prosperous areas in the colonies.

1752- The rumblings of war were not un-noted by Carlos I, and he made efforts to ally himself with Britain and Prussia. Carlos I was very much concerned with France re-emerging as a strong power, and he sought to ensure that Labyrnna and its colonies remained unharmed. Because of this, further forces were sent to the border of New Labyrnna with the French colonies of Louisiana, and soldiers were further built up along the Iron Walls.

1754- The beginnings of the Seven Years' War was extremely notable. The entire continent delved into war, and for the first time in history, there was a widespread movement of soldiers among the colonies through the Americas for all European powers. French soldiers immediately began raids into the province of Tejas in New Labyrnna, which caused chaos throughout the region. Soldiers in the province of California within New Labyrnna began to move eastwards.

1755- Naval raids on the Labyrnnan colonies in Italy began to happen in large numbers. As a response, the Labyrnnan navy mobilized and began blockading the Mediterranean ports of France. This caused a great deal of starvation within the region, and the raids began to decrease in number. Despite this, the raids did not cease.

1756- Soldiers from the province of California finally began to enter and fortify the province of Tejas from further French incursion. In the meantime, soldiers from the Vice-Royalties of New Portugal and America were deployed to the province of Florida within the Vice-Royalty of the Caribbean. This was not purely for defense, but to serve as a lesson to the French who were ever considered as pests that needed to be wiped out.

1757- Naval units were deployed to the Vice-Royalty of the Caribbean in an effort to cut off French reinforcements and supplies from reaching its colonies via New Orleans. This was met with resounding success and forced the French to resupply their colonies through the St. Lawrence River that was being heavily harassed by Britain. This caused the French colonies to grow weaker and their ability to raid Labyrnnan colonies fell immensely. Though this caused them to become more desperate and make more raids in an effort to gain food and other supplies, most of these were rebuffed upon their arrival.

1758- Soldiers from the province of Santa Fe were deployed to begin the invasion of French Louisiana. In an effort to turn the Native American allies of the French against them, the Labyrnnan offered lucrative trade deals to them while not harming them unless they explicitly fought with the French in a military manner. As a result, Labyrnnan soldiers were largely unharassed as they traversed the Great Plains. They still faced some harassment as they trekked onwards.

1759- After finding accurate maps of nearby French colonies seized from an abandoned French encampment, the Labyrnnan soldiers began marching towards French colonies along the Mississippi. Supply lines, after they began to become overstretched, were supplemented by extensive trade with the Native Americans, who were thankful for goods that Labyrnna supplied. This march threatened the very survival of the French colonial empire.

1760- The central French colony of St. Louis was discovered, after sending scouts to judge the defenses of the city, it was placed under siege. After only a period of a few weeks, the besieged French forces attempted a desperate counter-attack. They were slaughtered by the Labyrnnan soldiers, hardened from years of trekking, harassment and dealing with the deaths of their fellow soldiers, and these same soldiers led an attack into the city. The city fell to the soldiers no more than 3 days later, and the control of the upper Mississippi fell completely into the hands of Labyrnna.

1761- Hearing about the fall of St. Louis, Louis XV led a further attack across the Pyrenees on the Iron Walls. After one of the forts fell, French troops funneled through the gap and attempted to march towards the rich city of Barcelona. Before this could happen, Carlos I made a calculated risk and ordered most of the troops stationed in the Iron Walls to gather to the north of Barcelona. As the French troops neared, Carlos I himself led the charge against the French. Why he decided to do such an action, history may never know, but he was shot in the eye by a stray shot and was incapacitated. Despite the death of their Emperor, the generals broke the flanks of the invading French army and destroyed more than 2/3 of their invading forces. The remaining 1/3 attempted to flee, but they were eventually captured as the remaining soldiers stationed at the Iron Walls had already fixed the break to a sufficient degree. Left with no choice, they surrendered. After this battle, Carlos I's son, the newly crowned Ferdinand III, led the French to the diplomacy table.

1762- News of the defeat of France had not reached the soldiers attacking Louisiana, so they continued onwards. The soldiers in St. Louis turned southwards, while the soldiers stationed in Tejas began to move towards their primary target: New Orleans. This rich port was coveted immensely by the Labyrnnans, and the conquest of this city would result in the complete dominance of the Gulf of Mexico, making it a Labyrnnan sea. As these two groups converged to the west of the city, they marched and laid siege to the city. This brutal siege led to the starvation of thousands, and eventually surrendered after receiving word that France had already surrendered in Europe.

1763- The Treaty of Toulouse was signed by Labyrnna and France. This treaty resulted in no territorial change in Europe, however, the benefits in the New World were absolutely incomprehensible in comparison. The entirety of French Louisiana west of the Mississippi River had been surrendered to Labyrnna, and the dominance of the Gulf of Mexico was complete. The newly conquered province was divided into two parts by a line that went west-east at the city of St. Louis. The Vice-Royalty of Louisiana was created from the section south of the line, while the Vice-Royalty of Missouri was created from the section north of the line.

1764- Despite the beginning of his reign being christened in blood, the new Emperor would not be deterred. He led a Roman-style triumph back from the Iron Walls to Lynna City, holding huge celebrations after winning the war. After this celebration, however, he sought to rebuild the things that had been destroyed in northeastern Labyrnna. In particular, Ferdinand III looked at the Iron Walls and decided that it was time that they received an upgrade. This would take a great deal of time and money, but the new Emperor reasoned that the defense of the Empire was paramount.

1766- France, reeling from its defeat, entered into a depression that would threaten the continued existence of the French state. In comparison, Labyrnna was beginning a new Golden Age. Glowing in its military victories and continued trade with its colonies, Labyrnna began a new wave of colonization efforts, this time incentivizing the colonization of the new Vice-Royalties of Louisiana and Missouri. Many Labyrnnan colonists funneled through the port of New Orleans, and being promised vast amounts of agricultural land, Labyrnnan colonists began to pour in large numbers. Native Americans would eventually have issue with this, however, this was often met with the point of a Labyrnnan bayonet and/or gun.

1768- In order to defend its new enormous territories and to safeguard the settlers rushing there, units were transferred from the Vice-Royalty of Arcadia and the Vice-Royalty of America. French settlers were deported and sent to either the Caribbean possessions of France or back to France itself. Labyrnnan became commonly heard throughout the region, and eventually, French was very little spoken.

1770- In an unprecedented first, Ferdinand III began his tour of the colonies. This was the first time in centuries that an Emperor had travelled from Europe to the colonies, and he arrived in Veracruz to great celebration. He travelled inland to Mexico City to a great festival to commemorate the return of the Emperor to New Labyrnna. After spending several days in Mexico City, he travelled up to the province of Tejas, and then to the new Vice-Royalties of Louisiana and Missouri.

1771- The tour continued into the new year after he travelled west to the rapidly-growing cities in California. A major port named San Francisco was growing incredibly fast in the central of California, conducting a great deal of commerce with the other colonies, Labyrnna and Asia. This city became one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Empire as a whole, and its wealth would only continue to grow. The Emperor visited this city and decided to declare this new city as the capital of the Vice-Royalty of California, becoming separate from the Vice-Royalty of New Labyrnna. As a result, he dedicated a new governor's residence and a new center for administrative examinations for the province.

1772- After an extensive tour, he returned home from the port of New Orleans to the port of Cadiz back in Labyrnna. While the Emperor had been gone, it had been administered diligently by his brother, who would become the future emperor, Carlos II. Much unlike the hated Cardinal Escarra, there was even no attempt to take power. Carlos II had been confident in his brother's ability to rule and harbored no ill-will sufficient enough for him to take the throne for himself. This level of trust can only be the sign of a true, modern nation-state forming with institutions becoming stable enough to prevent any such actions from coming about.

1774-