Mutulese Global Circuit
Mutuleses Possessions in Ochran and the Vespanian Ocean Och K'ak | |
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| The Mutulese Ochran and Tsurushima in 1801 The Mutulese Ochran and Tsurushima in 1801 | |
| Largest | Juwon Peten |
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Mutulese Ochran is the name generally given to the parts of Ochran who where under direct or indirect rule from the Divine Kingdom. It was initially a trade-based system which derived most of its influence from merchant enterprise and was considered by the Mutuleses as an extansion of what they called the Market Network System. With a few notable exceptions, such as the Yajawil of Kahei the majority of the Dutch colonial empire's overseas holdings consisted of coastal forts, factories, and port settlements with varying degrees of incorporation of their hinterlands and surrounding regions. The Nuk Nahob, or "Mutuleses trading companies", were the owners of most of these possessions with the K'uhul Ajaw serving as a distant lawmaker and arbiter of disputes between competing Nuk Nahob.
Since smaller companies lacked the capital or the manpower for large-scale expeditions through the Makrian Ocean and into the Vespanian Circuit, these distant trade operations were left to a shifting collection of merchant-nobles houses chartered by the Divine Throne. During the first half of the eighteenth century, these had a virtual monopoly on strategic shipping-routes westward through the Makrian Ocean. It greatly contributed to a commercial revolution and a cultural flowering in the Mutul during the late 16th and early 17th century.
In the 18th century the Mutulese presence in Ochran and the Vespanian Ocean started to decline following the Tsurushimese revolution of 1750 which changed the balance of powers in Ochran. But it's only seventy years later, during the Second War for Kahei, that the Mutuleses would definitively loose control over most of their possessions in the region.
History
Akutze Selenecha's Travels
Kirishtan Revolt
The Mutul was but a minor trade partner of Tsurushima during the 16th century, far outshined by the economical and political influences of the Belisarians Legations. However, during the Kirishitan Uprising, the Mutulese Legation was the only one to side with the Shogunate and pagan forces. Because of their non-abrahamic faith and their reputation for human sacrifices and body modifications, Mutuleses were also victims of the Uprising, and the Siege of the Mutulese Legation lead to the creation of Mutli-Tsurushimans militias that fought alongside the Shogun’s armies and supporters.
War for Kahei
Establishment in Pulau Keramat
In 1560, the Nuk Nahob opened their first trade post in the Solustheris Isles. The islands of what would become Pulau Keramat were then divided among many kingdoms and cultures and would not be re-unified until the 17th century. This period of division and warfare was known as the Age of Fire, and was used by the Nuk Nahob to slowly build their influence over all the warring states and then, after the end of the Age of Fire, on the Confederation.
Territories
Kaihei Islands
When Tsurushima abandoned the Open Gate policy, the Mutul expanded its operations in the Kaihei Islands, alongside many other Belisarians and Oxidentale competitors. But through capitulations and various legations they obtained by collaborating with local lords, batabob were sent to represent the Mutuleses interests in the archipelago, and through marriages with the aristocracy and noble clans, exclaves under the K'uhul Ajaw symbolic authority were created. Among these important exclaves were Juwon peten, where the Ochk'ak fleet produced its famous Djong, and Hoxi peten which was an important tradehub for all spices cultivated in the archipelago.
The Mutuleses supported the development of the culture of spices, tea, and other cash crops in the Kaihei Islands, but also of sylviculture as the Kaihei ports became the seat of power of the important Ochk'ak fleet whom built itself on the back of the Tsurushiman fleets abandoned after the closure of their country, and became an important way for the Tsurushiman clans, who established themselves in Kaihei or in Sinhai at the height of their empire, to maintain their powers by becoming officers in the new Mutulese marine.
Legation in Tsurushima
After the start of the Closed Gate Policy, the Mutuleses were the last foreigners tolerated inside the Archipelago, and only in one location : the port of Sakurajima. More specifically, in what was nicknamed the Mutulese Legation, located on an island link to the rest of the city by a single bridge, guarded on both sides.
the island was, administratively, part of the city. The 11 local Tsurushiman families who owned the land received an annual rent from the Nuk Nahob operating in the Legation. It contained houses for the Mutuleses, warehouses, and accommodation for both Mutuleses and Japanese officials. Numerous merchants supplied goods and catering, and about 100 interpreters served. While the island was under the strict surveilance of the Shogun, who had a Supervisor in Sakurajima, the day to day administration of the port was left to the council of the Nuk Nahob's representatives, who elected their own Batab, the equivalent of a mayor.
Despite the financial burden of maintaining the isolated outpost, the trade with Tsurushima was very profitable for the Mutuleses , initially yielding profits of 50% or more. The legation proved very profitable up until the First Republic, which saw the end of the Closed Gate Policy and the re-opening of the archipelago to all foreigners.
The Mutuleses traded mostly in silk, cotton, chocolate, and sugar. Also, deer pelts and shark skin were transported to Tsurushima from Kahei, as well as books, scientific instruments and many other rarities. In return, the Mutuleses traders bought Tsurushiman copper, silver, camphor, porcelain, lacquer ware and rice. To this was added the personal transactions of the Nuk Nahob's employees which was an important source of income for them and their Tsurushiman counterparts.
Market System
The Mutulese system was based around a network of marketplaces of various size. At marketplaces, nearby farmers, artisans, and producers would come to sell their products. Mutuleses marketplaces provided with multiple services, such as scribes to seal agreements between two parties, banks to lend money, and various judges and civil servants. However, not all marketplaces were equals. The smallest markets were where farmers would sell flax, cotton, cereals, and other raw materials, to “medium range traders”. These traders would then go and sell said products to larger markets where they would be bought by “Long rang traders”, generally Mutuleses aristocrats. The medium range traders would then return to the smaller markets and sell back the various kind of products they bought.