About and In-Game Info

== SYNOPSIS ==
CIRCA REGNA TONAT.
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THIS ERA MUST TOO END
THE  OUTBREAK  OF  SICKNESS marked a new act upon the world stage — this time, a dark one evoking fear and mistrust. plague ravaged every known land and, with each death, as entire kingdoms were ruined, a dark cloud descended that even prayers failed to lift. nobles presided over ghost towns; vineyards and graveyards alike were reduced to ashen rubble; famine took hold as fields lay barren. yet, these endless days of death and dying were not what they seemed: after several infernal years, there was light, refracting new colors to shatter the dim greyness.
waves of plague characterized the past thirty years, but now they have recently yielded a new era: the renaissance. from the westmost reaches of europe to the far east, new generations shook off the somber circumspection which characterized their predecessors. courts flourished, royals and nobles envisioned long lives, heirs were borne again of transnational alliances. gone was the danse macabre, replaced in glorious artworks by rosy-cheeked youths and merciful angels. wine, spices, textiles, and precious goods flowed freely as the east and west once again fused. trade routes — veins crisscrossing land and sea — pumped life into the previously frail, ashen world. this new era was one of music and art and celebration, one that would endure the intrigues of culture, faith, and the human conscience with equal parts rebellion and devotion. as never before, optimism ruled.
the possibility of global harmony reached its zenith in 1455, when the newly anointed pope callixtus iii summoned royals and commoners alike to florence, meaning to inaugurate the era. along with the european peace, the pope alleged a profound sense of goodwill for the powerful non-christrian states. however, the pope’s efforts merely plastered over the long-simmering conflict between his own cousins, the trastámaras of aragon, and the córdobans whose conquest deposed them. a intervening decade did nothing to assuage their pain and acrimony, yet the states gathered in florence endeavored to accomplish that work in merely a few months’ time. all seemed to move according to plan until florence erupted — once a tranquil host, it became a thrashing beast eager to shake off its guests like fleas. indeed, the epiphany day riots in 1456 sent the visitors scattering: a córdoban ambassador was dead under questionable circumstances; the people of florence were tired of the expensive spectacles; and, for the first time since their arrival, western and eastern leaders doubted whether global prosperity could ever be more than a fever dream.
two years later, the states gathered at the behest of the pope. this time, however, he meant not to manifest a fantasy but to salvage the tenuous peace which miraculously survived january 1456. this was a continuation or, more accurately, a RESET. unfortunately, tragedy and suspicion struck several months prior to the gathering: the trastámara monarchs, throneless but undeterred, were dead. the assassinations occurred inexplicably and, swiftly, fingers pointed to neighboring córdoba. rather than claiming the murders or declaring war, the córdoban emir asserted his innocence and doubled down on his intentions to participate in this second convocation. allies, enemies, and those few neutral parties found themselves in portugal beneath a cloud of suspicion. yet, despite the inauspicious start, the summit proved peaceful and even productive. in two years, more than just the trastámara assassinations had rocked the world. new alliances solidified while others were torn asunder; great powers’ influence has waxed and waned as factions battled for dominance; global culture, trade, and politics reconfigured, leaving the future wide open and full of riches for those willing to seize it. if florence was the pinnacle, states from east to west teetered dangerously close to the nadir in lisbon. ultimately, peace and harmony would prevail over the turmoil stewing — BUT,  FOR HOW LONG ?
it is now 1459.
france emerges like a dark horse, trumpeting a grand celebration worthy of the world’s participation—this, an occasion to overshadow the impressive showing in portugal and boast new preeminence in the vatican’s eyes. the late king ferrant is to be sanctified, and france intends to outdo even its own reputation for opulence and excess. still, the audacity and french closeness with rome alarms some key players on the world stage. with france’s ascendancy, aragon doubts the pope’s reliability in avenging its old losses to cordoba. the holy roman empire, shaking under the weight of a new plague, further convulses with rage as it is sidelined in the canonization process for the first time in history. worse still, as 1458 turns to 1459, word spreads of violence in the french countryside as peasants bemoan the injustice of celebrating in the face of poverty and pestilence. echoed warnings from distant florence go unheeded. instead, the anjous polish paris for the world’s gaze as roman cardinals orchestrate brutality and bribery—all for the radiance of france, for the holy see, for international harmony. soon, sovereigns and nobles descend again upon a glorious event with high hopes and higher stakes. as golden rays of winter cool the city’s busied cobblestone streets, nations’ residual misgivings will prove resoundingly true: the balance of power is shifting once more, and only some will emerge as victors.
== RELATIONSHIPS ==
=== AFFAIRS / MISTRESSES. ===
* marius d'anjou & henrietta von eggenberg
* count of ourém & lady of cordoba
* milanese ambassador & former princess of france
=== MARRIAGES. ===
* crown prince & crown princess of russia
* crown prince of castile & lady of biscay
* duke & duchess of montalto
* duke & duchess of sessa
* duke & duchess of york
* earl of richmond & countess of richmond
* emir of cordoba & sultana of the ottoman
* emperor of china & empress jingfei
* empress of the holy roman empire & prince consort
* general of tlemcen & lady of cordoba
* grand duke & duchess of florence
* king & queen of castile
* king & queen of england
* king & queen of france
* king & queen of portugal
* marius d'anjou & former princess of france
* melek sultan & grand vizier of the ottoman
* prince of croatia & princess of dubrovnik
* prince of wales & grand duchess of russia
* prince vasily bezukhov & princess of bezukhova (1)
* shah of persia & consort firouzeh
* shah of persia & shahbanu ghazala
* sultan iskender & branimira babonić
* tsar of russia & tsarina of russia
=== BETROTHALS. ===
* crown princess of portugal & duke of salerno
* princess of portugal (1) & archduke of austria
* princess of portugal (2) & duke of valencia
* ottoman sultana (2) & prince of austria
== DIPLOMACY GUIDE ==
this section is a reference for the various countries’ relationships with each other. members can review the alliances, hostilities, and diplomatic developments at play in each court. each entry will be regularly updated as plots development and change over time, and players should submit said updates to the admins as needed.
=== CHINESE EMPIRE ===
china has only recently convened with the west, but it used the opportunity to display its might and entice future partnerships. alongside strengthening ties with its immediate neighbors, china seeks new opportunities to further exert its diplomatic and military influence across the international stage.
* positive relationships: persia.
* negative relationships: tbd.
* neutral relationships of note: tbd.
=== EMIRATE OF CÓRDOBA ===
cordoba’s bold invasion of the iberian peninsula has proved an enduring success, and its reputation is slowly improving with its european neighbors. while true acceptance is still in the distance, mutual benefit materialized with castile and, most recently, england. alongside these relationships and its enduring friendship with the ottoman empire, cordoba’s presence in the trade alliance also brings a connection to russia. cordoba’s ability to maneuver and make further allies is admittedly impeded by aragon’s continued campaign of retribution, but cordoba is successfully impressing upon the world that such an effort would prove to be in no one’s interest but the trastamaras—who, unlike cordoba, have nothing to offer but wishful thinking.
* positive relationships include: the ottoman empire, castile, england, russia.
* negative relationships include: aragon, portugal, the holy roman empire.
* neutral relationships of note include: persia, florence, naples. 
=== HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE & CROATIA ===
the holy roman empire has adopted a defensive posture recently, faced with unprecedented marginalization from different angles. the trastamara pope seems eager to sideline them; a peace with its perennial enemy, the ottoman empire, is uneasy at best and has afforded the ottomans space to befriend would-be allies like england; even the fresh commitment to fighting cordoba is flagging. it is likely that the empire will soon take charge of the future, perhaps forming a bloc of its own with allies who must be reminded of their place.
* positive relationships include: castile, aragon, portugal.
* negative relationships include: the ottoman empire, cordoba.
* neutral relationships of note include: france.
croatia remains under the holy roman empire’s authority, but its affairs remain precarious. a tenuous peace with venice and the ottoman empire hangs in the balance, as does croatia’s yet-unextinguished ambitions for full autonomy.
* positive relationships: holy roman empire.
* negative relationships: venice.
* neutral relationships of note: the ottoman empire.
=== ITALIAN LEAGUE ===
====GRAND DUCHY OF FLORENCE====
florence’s influence is economic, and that makes neutrality a powerful position. as the countries realign themselves and contemplate peace, war, and complex intermediary postures, florence sees its business endeavors as both economic and diplomatic investments. invariably, underwriting each trade agreement, declaration of war, or well-intended international summit is a hefty sum of medici gold. 
* positive relationships: naples, milan, castile, ottoman empire.
* negative relationships: venice.
* neutral relationships of note: england, russia, france, holy roman empire.
====DUCHY OF MILAN====
in the recent past, milan birthed the idea of an italian league, itself arising under the sforza dynasty as a juggernaut of modernization and pro-italian diplomacy. recent internal conflict has mired the duchy in domestic infighting which the current regency encapsulates. while milan’s elites back home spar over which faction will reign supreme, the delegation in paris has adopted a steely united front. ostensibly, milan’s best move is to forcefully reassert its leadership over naples, venice, and florence by some means, while continuing its once-pioneering efforts at major diplomatic agreements with non-italians. 
positive relationships: florence.
negative relationships: france.
neutral relationships of note: venice, naples.
====KINGDOM OF NAPLES====
naples has a great ambition to unite the italian peninsula, a vivid dream of diplomacy or conquest which would ensure a legendary legacy for itself. yet, the more pressing concern is ensuring it is not itself first picked apart and consumed. with its trastamara cousins powerless, aragon is no longer a predator; in its place, cordoba and even france circle and leer. naples seeks to distinguish itself in the wake of aragon’s fall as a powerful italian state and international player. the exact means remain to be seen, but at least its young king is eager to eschew a defensive posture in favor of asserting naples as believably mighty.
* positive relationships include: florence.
* negative relationship include: aragon, france.
* neutral relationships of note include: cordoba, milan, venice.
====REPUBLIC OF VENICE====
venice, much like florence, is an economic powerhouse eager to conduct its affairs in hard currency and expensive commodities rather than the abstract idea of diplomacy. indeed, as a lively and contentious republic, trade is one of few things on which venice is able to take a truly united stance. venice has recently made peace with its mediterranean rivals, the ottoman empire and croatia, but the pause in hostilities require venice to look elsewhere for trade routers and partners to squeeze. as the italian league member least committed to the spirit of pan-italian unity, they’re eager to strike out on their own in the likely event that the peninsula fractures — figuratively, or by the greedy machinations of france, aragon, and even cordoba.
* positive relationships: tbd.
* negative relationships: ottoman empire, croatia, florence.
* neutral relationships: naples, milan, france, aragon, holy roman empire.
=== KINGDOM OF ENGLAND ===
england has recently scored important diplomatic victories, namely its peace with france and entry into a significant trade alliance. however, enduring peace with france is an open question, especially with a now-friendly neighbor willing to make itself useful. while formerly on the verge of committing to aragon’s cause alongside its former ally portugal, england’s decision to union with russia firmly cast its lot in a different and unexpected direction.
* positive relationships include: russia, cordoba, the ottoman empire.
* negative relationships include: tbd.
* neutral relationships of note include: portugal, france.
=== KINGDOM OF FRANCE ===
france is ascendant, though much of that is self-declaration and prophecy rather than objective fact. recent talks with the vatican have burnished their reputation as a defender of the faith, and they’re leveraging this newfound closeness to obscure murkier situations—a sour union with russia, perennial tensions with the holy roman empire exacerbated by a disgraced prince, a marriage to aragon which brings many obligations and few clear benefits, a king who has only recently gained a proper foothold on his own throne. blocking france’s bright future is a laundry list of problems; the parisian festivities must be less party and more parley if they wish to actualize their professed good fortunes. luckily, some at court are particularly committed to steering france toward both stability and goodwill with its estranged allies.
* positive relationships include: aragon.
* negative relationships include: cordoba.
* neutral relationships of note include: russia, england, holy roman empire.
=== KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL ===
portugal’s commitment to aragon has proved an exceptionally fair bargain, requiring little more of portugal than lip-service and occasionally providing shelter for their relatives. while they stand passionately prepared to take on córdoba, they are also patiently observing as europe’s power balance continues reconfiguring itself. their impending unions with the holy roman empire are part of this prudent strategy; they’ve chosen an ally with power and ambition but a similar interest in careful, considered action. portugal is not a neutral power, but their recent summit has allowed them to minimize that fact. despite its preference for catholic nations, portugal may also find itself tempted by persia’s arrival on the scene, given the fact that the persia shah and portugese king are, in fact, cousins.
* positive relationships include: aragon, the holy roman empire.
* negative relations include: cordoba.
* neutral relationship of note include: england, persia.
=== OTTOMAN EMPIRE ===
the ottoman empire has established itself in recent years as one of the world’s preeminent powers, having both vanquished its longtime enemy of byzantium with military force and cemented crucial diplomatic ties with neighboring russia and england in the far west. from this position, the ottomans contemplate going on the offensive — striking another longtime enemy, the holy roman empire, perhaps — or continuing to curry good favor with those influential, wealthy countries yet to be made allies. the empire is flourishing in trade and conquest, but it also benefits  from the continuing success of its dearest ally, cordoba. such obvious prosperity allows the empire to conceal its delicate  fractures, whether in debates over western influence or in the brewing succession struggles due to boil over once each generation. 
* positive relationships: cordoba, florence, england, russia.
* negative relationships: holy roman empire, venice, persia.
* neutral relationships of note: croatia.
=== PERSIAN EMPIRE ===
persia’s most obvious play is undermining ottoman dominance, a reality owing both to ottoman strategic proximity and persia’s late arrival on the international scene. nonetheless, they offer another entrypoint to the rest of the east which could upend existing dynamics. immediate options for establishing themselves include: acquainting themselves better with an erstwhile ally, portugal, from whence the shah’s mother hails; befriending another islamic power, cordoba, to drive a wedge between the cordobans and ottomans; or, conversely, ingratiating themselves with the holy roman empire to potentially squeeze a shared enemy. yet, persia aspires to move beyond this neighbors’ grudge match; its connections to the delhi sultanate and china by extension provide fertile ground for negotiations, russia stands as a potential regional ally, and even easing relations with the ottomans — perhaps by joining the recent trade bloc — would offer economic if not territorial benefits. failing this, persia may resurrect its ill-fated maritime alliance with portugal and finally make good on the previous generation’s ambitious plans.
* positive relationships: china.
* negative relationships: the ottoman empire.
* neutral relationships of note: portugal, russia, the holy roman empire.
=== SPANISH KINGDOMS ===
====KINGDOM OF CASTILE====
castile’s influence has grown over the years thanks to the dramatic power shift caused by the cordoban invasion and, more recently, castile’s union with the holy romance empire. castile continues to strengthen its ties to cordoba, and it appears to have many options for future maneuvering.
* positive relationships include: the holy roman empire, cordoba.
* negative relationships include: tbd.
* neutral relationships of note include: tbd.
====EXILED COURT OF ARAGON====
aragon’s influence has been waning since the florence summit, as its allies are making new alliances and seemingly losing interest in fighting cordoba on aragon’s behalf. however, the recent union with france presents an opportunity to reinvigorate the fight, as does the continued connection to the pope who is also of the trastamara clan as well as the tragic episode which has replaced the conciliatory prince of viana with his still vengeance-minded brother. under new leadership, the aragonese are determined to persuade france into military action and collect allies along on the way.
* positive relationships include: france, portugal, the holy roman empire.
* negative relationships include: cordoba, naples.
* neutral relationships of note include: england.
=== TSARDOM OF RUSSIA ===
russia is an up-and-coming state, having expanded into a fruitful union with england and a recent trade alliance with england, cordoba, and the neighboring ottoman empire. russia is clearly making a play for influence in europe more generally, and it seems to be doing so with success—which, notably, has little to do with its soured union with france.
* positive relationships include: england, cordoba, the ottoman empire.
* negative relationships include: the holy roman empire.
* neutral relationship of note include: france.
== GEOGRAPHY ==
the following section covers CROWNS’ geography meta, specifically the boundaries of each country at play relative to each other. relevant notes are written below the images and will be added as needed. territory is based partially on historical maps—which may not be accurate for the exact period—and partially on modern states’ borders. contested regions may be added as the plot proceeds. ( the blank map used is credited HERE. )
=== GLOBAL MAP ===
this map was created by a member
===COUNTRY KEY, ZOOM VIEW===
* aragon refers to the exiled court’s former territory, now córdoban.
* croatia is a principality of the holy roman empire.
* córdoba’s territory extends across north and west africa, encompassing modern day morocco, algeria, mauritania, mali, and niger.
===MAP OF EURASIA===
===NORTHWEST AFRICA, ZOOM VIEW===
===EUROPE, ZOOM VIEW===
===AEGEAN & BLACK SEAS, ZOOM VIEW===
== LOCATIONS ==
=== PARIS, FRANCE. ===
PLEASE NOTE some locations and buildings have been incorporated into 15th century paris for roleplay purposes, but may not have existed at that time or within the vicinity historically.
* Hotel Saint-Pol: the Hôtel Saint-Pol is the lavish royal residence of the d’Anjou crown, boasting over a hundred years of use and incredible accommodations. The hôtel comprises three important dwellings – one for the king, one for the queen christened as the Hotel d’Etampes, and one for royal children, the Hotel des Abbes de Saint-Maur.
* Palais de la Cité: a former residence of the French monarchy, the Palais is located in the heart of Paris and occupies four hectares of land. A testimony to Parisian architecture, adorned with miles of exquisite stained glass windows and a magnificent ode to Christ almighty in the center of the Palais’ immense chapel, the Palais is currently apportioned to the Portuguese royal family and their retinue.
* Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey: As relatives of the French queen and delegates to the Aragonese pope, the retinue from the exiled court of Aragon have been allowed to enjoy the sumptuousness of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey. The gesture intended to exemplify the goodwill between France and the Vatican, bonded by a mutual desire for peace. The abbey is a Romanesque landmark located on the outskirts of Paris, absorbed into the city’s bustling center. Painted ceilings, marble pillars, and the tombs of French kings of the 13th century make for an unforgettable residence, fitted with a glorious gothic choir in the abbey’s ambulatory that releases melodious music into the city.
* Château de la Tournelle: a fortress located on the left bank of the Seine, cold river winds are known to seep through the mighty stone currently housing the Castilian and Holy Roman royal retinue. Imposing, domineering, and filled with priceless artifacts dating back to the first crusade, a celebratory feast is annually celebrated within the chateau’s abbey in commemoration of the exodus.
* Palais-Cardinal: a stately complex located in the center of Paris, the Palais has transferred hands several times – transforming from a monastery into a sanctuary of international diplomacy – though it is now at the disposal of the Italian League for their extended use. Blanketed in birdsong and symbolic fleur-de-lis, the Palais’ gardens quiet the commotion of the city, surrounded by an imposing ensemble of buildings that echo the monastic life of previous landlords.
* Couvent des Célestins: a former convent and now the residence of a local count-bishop, the Couvent de Célestins has been granted to the sultan of the Ottoman Empire for use during his stay in France. A sanctified necropolis for the French royal family, the Couvent sits on a magnificent courtyard and garden lauded for its beauty and tranquility. Inextricably linked to the house of Anjou, the Couvent also benefits from close proximity to the French royal family, seated nearby in the Hotel Saint-Pol.
* Château de Vincennes: strategically located at the gates of Paris, the Château is a royal residence apportioned to the emir of Cordoba and his entourage. Transformed from a humble family manor into a suitable royal dwelling and spectacular fortress, it consists of four principal buildings—the keep, the chapel, and two pavilions—enclosed by an enceinte with nine towers.
* Cordeliers Convent: an ancient and fortified Benedictine convent built by royal benefaction, the chapel, cloister, and refectory surround a bountiful garden and courtyard, ideal for receiving guests by the French and Russian royal families who have been invited to occupy the space. Richly dressed in a style befitting its status as a major pilgrimage stop, the abbey is adorned with tall marble columns, opulent paintings, mosaic tile floors and a gilded copper-clad roof to reflect the sunlight.
* Cathédrale Saint-Etienne: complex, vibrant, and designed with richly-sculpted headstones, magnificent altarpieces, and an ensemble of stained-glass windows, the cathedral Saint-Etienne is the current residence of Persia's shah and his retinue while sojourning in the city. A major intellectual centre of Paris, the cathedral’s library, stocked with thousands of rare manuscripts painstakingly hand-copied over the centuries by monks, is one of the largest and most impressive in France.
* Tuileries Palace: a historic imperial palace seated on the bank of the River Seine, it is one of the most beloved royal monuments in Paris, seated upon miles of pontifical gardens as the rumored favorite residence of Pope Callixtus. It houses one of Europe’s largest libraries, made available to the English king and his retinue to enjoy, along with a vibrant cloister, papal bedrooms, private chapels, a sumptuous theatre, central pavilion, and over twenty-five spacious apartments complete with panoramic views of the river.
* Château de Fontainebleau: the richness and variety of the château’s buildings make it one of the most fashionable residences in Paris, currently kept and maintained by the Duke of Auvergne and apportioned to the Emperor of China’s family and retinue for their sojourn in the city. Housing an unbroken line of influential French dukes, it has been the passion project of several well-known architects and features one of the greatest assemblages of Italian exuberance and artistic genius joined to French subtlety and classical restraint. Elaborate frescoes, sculpted frames, coffered ceilings, and faceted doors all prove an integral aspect of the château’s enduring mystique.
== IN-GAME TIMELINE ==
====PRE-OPENING EVENTS.====
* 1418: Plague begins to ravish the world in successive waves.
* 1444: Córdoba invades the rest of Iberia, including the Kingdom of Aragon; the Aragonese court goes into exile.
* 1450: The last plague outbreak peaks and recedes.
* 1455: Pope Callixtus ascends to the Papal Throne.
* 1456: Florence riots; end of act one.
* 1458: Death of the Aragonese monarchs.
====POST-OPENING EVENTS.====
* JUNE 1458: Nobles and monarchs arrive in Portugal at the behest of House of Braganza; summit guests attend an opening pageant and feast on the 19th.
* AUGUST 1458: A trade fair is held on the 7th-14th, and a trade alliance between Russia, England, the Ottoman Empire, and Córdoba is announced.
* SEPTEMBER 1458: Guests depart from Lisbon and return to their respective countries; end of act two.
* NOVEMBER 1458: France announces the canonization of its late king, Ferrant, and invites the summit guests to attend the celebrations.
* FEBRUARY 1459: The celebratory summit in France begins. 
=== EVENTS ===
====THE ARAGONESE ASSASSINATIONS, 1458.====
BETWEEN 1444 AND 1458, the deposed royal house of trastàmara bounced between european courts, relying upon the generosity of royal relations, such as the king and queen of portugal, or sympathetic catholic nations to take them in and host them – at personal risk of drawing the attention and ire of the CORDÓBAN EMIRATE which had ejected the trastàmaras from their throne, appropriating both their crown and lands, nearly a decade prior. the family's fortune, however, seemed to be on the up and up again in the wake of the peace negotiations in florence, for though a betrothal between the eldest princess of aragon and the prince of wales had unraveled, a new match was under way between the princess and the KING OF FRANCE.
the once king and queen of aragon – reduced to the hereditary titles of prince and princess of viana – were hopeful that they would one day bear the titles that had been lost to them at the end of a bloodied sword. then, war threatened to plague spain once more in the wake of the death of a córdoban ambassador, ABD AL-QADIR IBN NIZAM during the florentine riots; the prince and princess bore the fault of his death and decided to seek refuge in france, where their daughter had just recently been crowned queen.
en route to the country that promised to protect and defend them, the couple's ship sunk into calm seas, resulting in the death of the former monarchs. it was a route they had traveled many times before; it was as if their ship dissapeared without a trace, and with it strength behind the movement to reclaim aragon. rumors once again took flight, beginning anew a blame game that had seemingly killed the late royals, with the emir of cordòba himself at the end of these wagging fingers.
====THE FLORENCE RIOTS, 1456.====
THE EPIPHANY PAGEANT, held on the 6th januray 1456, was suppose to be like any other: a celebration and remembrance of the THREE KINGS who visited the baby jesus. though a sacred day for many, it is said that the presence of the ottomans and the córdobans, invited by the medici to witness the celebrations inflamed the tempers of many within the crowds. worse still, others murmured that florence's masses had grown sick of the city's elaborate, expensive festivities pf whose lavish foods and wine only foreigners were allowed to partake. this celebration was the straw that broke the camel's back, it seems. no one knew who started the rioting, but angry crowds roamed the streets for a day and a night before being brought to heel by florentine guards.
as the dust settled, one death stood out from the crowd and that was, ABD AL-QADIR IBN NIZAM an esteemed and much beloved ambassador from córdoba. accusations and rumours spread like wildfire, setting córdoba and aragon at each others' throats once again. war was narrowly avoided.
in the aftermath of the riots, the pope's hopes of peace seemed to have been dashed, but not all was lost. some connections were formed, and as the monarchs, sultans, and emperors began their journey homeward, they were united in one common thought – the world seemed drastically smaller.
====THE PAPAL SUCCESSION, 1455.====
NO CORNER OF THE KNOWN WORLD was spared the ravages of the black death when it swept across the lands thirty years prior. a global trade that once united east to west ceased, ships and their cargos rotted into the oceans at the very spot their captains had moored years before – counties turned inwards and then upwards, prince and pauper alike falling to their knees in desperate prayer. WHY HAD THEIR GOD FORSAKEN THEM? a world that had been on the brink of enlightenment once again fell dark.
for a long time the countries suffered, pestilence and famine walking hand in hand – days of carefree wonderment a distant dream some feared would never again come to fruition. slowly but surely the disease that had TORMENTED the land slipped once again into the bowels of hell from which it had come, and the people began to look beyond the borders of their kingdoms for the first time in decades.
in 1455 POPE CALLIXTUS III was anointed before god, his coronation seen as a new beginning. he extended invitations eastward and westward; powerful dynasties the world over descend upon florence, ostensibly to unite in peace and prosperity.
== ROLEPLAY INFO. ==
DISCLAIMER: 
Crowns is an original character historical roleplay. Whilst inspired by historical events and figures, all respective ideas, characters, and graphics belong to the creators and members of this roleplay. Crowns may take liberties with historical accuracies, thus it is important to familiarize yourself with our meta, including all major in-game events, before applying. As admins – we’re always here to help!
all ideas, characters, images, and roleplay devices belong to their respective owners. CROWNS claims original concepts and graphics, but individual characters and narratives belong to their respective creators. while it is a historical roleplay, CROWNS is history-inspired and takes liberties with accuracy.
SETTING: PARIS, FRANCE, 1459
ESTABLISHED: july 19 2019
VOL. 2: june 2020
VOL. 3: december 2020
ADMINS: danji, kate, lou, michelle, n., tilda 
ACCEPTING: ROLLING ACCEPTANCES MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, & FRIDAYS!
Category:References