Balijaj Chan K'awiil Anabasis
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The B'alijaj Chan K'awiil Anabasis was a military and diplomatic expedition led by the K'uhul Ajaw B'alijaj Chan K'awiil in the Oversea territories of the Global Circuit, mainly Tsurushima, Kahei, Pulau Keramat, Maok'ab, Barriset, and Ankat. It follows the B'alijaj Chan K'awiil previous victories in Oxidentale during the Mutulo-Reze Wars and the Sante Reze Noble Insurrection which secured the Mutul' southern border which remain unchanged to this day. The term of Anabasis is used to translate the Mutli term of Nakaj which can be understood in a variety of ways: "He conquered", "He ascended", "He was crowned"...
It took three years for the K'uhul Ajaw and his fleet to vist the entirety of the Global Circuit (from 1703 to 1706). It left a profound mark in the psyche of Ozerosi and Ochranese countries, such as in Ankat. In the Mutul, it served to reinforce the exceptionalism of B'alijaj Chan K'awiil rule which mark the height of the Global Circuit and the Golden Age of Mutul' prestige, power, and wealth. A status many in the Mutul feel they have not yet recovered as no Divine Lord since then as attempted such a global expedition across the world.
Objectives of the expedition
Balijaj Chan K'awiil, strengthen by his successes in Sante Reze, began working toward an old project of his father: organizing a large scale military and diplomatic expedition through the Global Circuit to re-affirm the proeminence of the Divine Throne over other forces, strengthen the administration of the oversea territories, and help deal with the wars and conflicts that still lingered in the post Ozeros War era.
In truth, the expedition had always been in the mind of Balijaj Chan K'awiil and preparations for it had begun while he was still merely Crown Prince. The Mutulo-Reze Wars had merely delayed the prince' plans. By 1700, the fleet had already been built and gathered. At its core, it was made up of 50 Djongs and Treasure ships escorted by 200 other ships of all sort, from Padewakang to Trimarans for a total of 33,000 men, including 20,000 soldiers, 12,000 sailors, and 1,000 government officials and court members. Enough supplies had been prepared for a one-way trip across the Makrian Ocean, with order already given in the years prior to the Yajawil of Kahei and Maok'ab to prepare themselves to receive and resupply such a massive fleet. Balijaj Chan K'awiil also counted on resupplies from their other protectorates and allies in the Makrian and Ozeros, such as Tsurushima, Ankat, and Pulau Keramat and messages were sent to them accordingly.
When he inherited the throne, Balijaj had sent one of his closest friend and a marine officer, Joplaj Pakal, to serve as Grand Admiral (Mtl: Ja Ajaw, "Waterlord") of the Oversea Fleet. He was de-facto tasked with the preparations of the project oversea and acted as direct representative of the Divine Lord. the Oversea Fleet, the post-Ozerosi war union of all previously private marines in the Global Circuit, would strengthen the Expeditionary Fleet greatly, adding up to 48 other Djongs to the mix and 200 more vessels of various sizes for a total of 20,000 "sailor-soldiers" and 10,000 "specialists" (Engineers, Artillery...). However, the Oversea Navy would rarely be deployed in full alongside the Expeditionary Fleet.