Chapter 49: Barbarians
In this way, the main Moorish army was helplessly trapped in North Africa, unable to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to support the Iberian territory in the north. This led to the complete victory of the Norman army - the Norman Empire completely unified the entire Iberian Peninsula in August. And then, because this new territory was rugged and there were too many mountainous terrains. So it's barren. Egir did not break it up as he did with France, Germany and Italy. Instead, a province was directly established.
The Spanish province is based on the emerging city of Madrid, in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. It was officially incorporated into the Norman Empire.
After this, the emperor assigned a new task to Marshal Farr. Continue south, attacking the Moorish lands, though the Emperor does not look down on the barren and barren part of North Africa. But in such a strong place, a unified country emerges, and it has a leader who can be regarded as eloquent. This is something that Egil does not want to see. Therefore, the task given by the emperor to Marshal Farr this time was not to conquer the city, but to destroy, like the locusts transiting, to destroy all the Moorish territories in North Africa. And kill Arslan. The sultan, who was capable of leading the Moors to build a strong state.
And so, after a period of recuperation, in November. Already in despair, he reluctantly accepted the loss of his territory in Iberia. Prepare to operate in North Africa. The reinvigorated Moors ushered in the next round of fierce attacks. The Norman fleet, which had trapped them in North Africa, had transported a large number of enemies this time. This country that is ready to destroy them completely...... After Spain was incorporated into the territory of the Empire. The presence of surnames as a sign. Europe has entered a new era. The Normans finally, finally, after nearly fifteen years of bitter fighting. Under the leadership of the brilliant Norman Emperor Egir Skadergrímsson, the whole of Europa was finally united, from Spain to Rus. From Scandinavia to Naples. From south to north, from west to east. There is no longer a trace of feudal secession over the whole of Europa. All cities, territories, forests, fields, manors...... All hoisted with the Norman four-winged three-legged two-color phoenix flag!
Just as Egil said in his New Year's address two years ago, after the Black Death. It was a great time. An era of unity! an era of the Normans, an era of him, the era of Egil Skadergrímsson!
There are more than 10 million square kilometers of Europa and 94 million people. All of them were under the rule of the Norman Empire! And it was absolutely effective! There was no actual effective rule of any feudal divisions, vassals, protectorates, prefectures, and tusi! The emperor could appoint governors of provinces, counties, and cities at will! He could conscript the people of any land as soldiers at will! He could obtain the production and taxes of any territory! This has to be said to be a miracle! It was a political miracle!
At that time, there were countries in the world that were larger and more populous than the Norman Empire. But there was absolutely no administrative system in the Norman Empire that was effective. There was definitely no Norman Empire that made use of its own resources. The overall national strength is definitely not as high as that of the Norman Empire. The same goes for stability. Egil's credit was not only for uniting the whole of Europa, but also for creating an effective administrative system. It is enough to ensure the existence of this country for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Another thousand-year empire, or rather, what Egil wanted was a great empire that would outlive Rome. Thousands of years after his death, his descendants are still the most honorable people in the world.
The crowd rejoiced, and the whole country celebrated. On August 28, it was officially named "Unification" by Egil, and it existed as a legal holiday in the Empire. This is called the suspension of classes. Factories were shut down, shops were closed, and the whole people celebrated the great victory of the Norman Empire.
It's not easy to think about it, a small nobleman who came out of the ice and snow in the north swept the whole of Europa in fifteen years, and fought in the south and the north. Eventually, a great empire was built. This is simply an incomprehensible miracle in the eyes of many people. When it comes to talking about this. Even if you hate Egil again, and look down on Egil, you can't be calm.
They can talk about the emperor's unscrupulousness, their brutality and madness, their criticism of his policies, and their absurdity and blasphemy. But they alone cannot be incompetent. Or something like that to describe Egil.
"He's a madman. But a capable madman. He was capable enough to cover up all his shortcomings, and plunged the world into the same madness as he did, forcing him to jump into the ring of fire with the whip of his whip. ”
Later generations, even the meanest critics, spoke of this emperor. No matter how ugly the scolding is. In the end, I had to say sourly: But I still have the ability. Many more completely ignore Egil's shortcomings and look at him as if he were a flawless saint...... At the same time, when the empire finally unified Europa. When it comes to saving the world from hundreds of thousands of years of chaos. In the New World of North America. Another legend of the Empire is being written.
All told, this is the third time the Empire has sailed to the New World. Of course, during this period, there were also many large merchants who had bought the permission of the imperial axe and came to trade on their own ships. In the Caribbean Sea, near Central America. The Empire has taken over a number of islands. A colony of tens of thousands of people was created. Havana as the capital of the territory. Even, some people made a decision directly. Want to settle in the beautiful Caribbean islands.
Sent out as a Norman emperor. The leader of the expedition to the New World. After a months-long voyage, General Walter arrived at Havana as his first stop. This new, small city with a population of only a few thousand. If you put it on the European mainland, it is absolutely nothing. Not to mention the provincial capital. Even the county capital is not counted. But here, on this narrow, island that is not even a county, the city has great symbolism.
European civilization has officially stepped onto the stage of Central America. It is not those astronomical calendars, mathematics and agriculture that are exceptionally developed. But they can't smelt steel, not even bronze. Without suitable large mounts, it is impossible to develop cavalry. There were no suitable livestock, so no vehicles and wheels were made...... A lame race that has no achievements in physics and is unable to build large warships and siege machines. Armed to the teeth with sophisticated steel weapons, black powder and war horses, the Europa, the conquerors of the Norman Empire, who had a fanatical quest for land, money, and faith.
Today, the Europa people who settled in Central America, and the caravans that came regularly, were a familiar sight for the local Aztecs. With the exception of Emperor Montezuma II, who was sick in bed and had become a little old and confused, few people regarded them as gods. Of course, this did not mean that their enthusiasm for the Normans had waned.
Or fantastical myths and legends that can maintain a sense of freshness for a while. But compared to the various changes brought about by the Normans. It's nothing. With the arrival of the Normans, this ancient Mesoamerican empire changed dramatically.
The merchants of the empire brought with them ironware, glass and cloth - linen, woollen wool, silk. These ornate fabrics surprised the Aztecs, who only knew how to weave cotton. The iron, on the other hand, was better than their best obsidian tomahawks, sharp, and tough.
The Normans also brought ploughing oxen, ploughs, various farm implements. and advanced hacienda production technology. They hired locals into large estates and carved out land to grow cocoa, spices and sugar – especially sugar. The Normans discovered that they were the first to colonize the island. The place that is now named Guba County is an excellent land. It is extremely suitable for sugar cane cultivation. Sugarcane imported from India can grow well here. In fact, sugar cane is grown, as well as sugar is processed. It has become the largest and most profitable industry in this new colony.
Unlike the history of another world, the empire was not a hillbilly with only gold in its eyes, like Spain. The empire is more about the land, and what it produces. Today, the empire receives large quantities of cane sugar and spices, cocoa, from Central America every year. Such trade enriched life in the empire.
But the Normans brought with them more than advanced technology, trade goods, and new religious beliefs. Then there was the plague, which was found to be the isolated Mesoamerica when the Black Death had passed in Europe itself.
In addition to this, there are smallpox, measles, tuberculosis...... All sorts of strange diseases that the indigenous people have never seen before, to which they are defenseless. The population of the Aztec Empire was declining at a terrifying rate. They were sick and dying one after another throughout the towns and villages, the cities. The atmosphere of the coming of the end made them feel very terrified.
As a result, the empire added another straining item to the trade goods of Central America - medicinal herbs.
It was during this time that General Walter came here. He was not confronted with the same terrifying empire of millions of elite warriors. Rather, a desperate country mired in plague, civil strife.
"The Lord has warned me, but if that's all it takes...... Conquering this place may be actually easy ......."
When he heard the local Norman merchants say this, General Walter had a plan in his heart.
(To be continued)