Distant Navy (Mutul)
The Distant Navy (Mutli: Xajal Maj) was the name given to the Mutulese navy tasked with protecting the Mutul interest in the Makrian, Kayatman, and Vespanian oceans, alongside the Karaihe and Ozeros seas. It was established in the aftermath of the War for Ankat and the increasing need for a permanent, professional military force in those oceans to ensure the security of the Mutulese Global Circuit. It notably took part in the Red Sails Wars and the Ozeros Wars, and was then involved in counter-rebellion operations in Pulau Keramat and the first Tsuru-Mutulese war. It slowly declined along with the Global Circuit until the Second War for Kahei when the loss of the archipelago left it de-facto scattered and divided in regional fleet too distant from the Mutul and too underfunded to represent credible threats. It was officially disbanded in the aftermath of the Arthuristan Ultimatum and the end of the Global Circuit. Its most direct successor is the modern Makrian Fleet of the Mutul.
Etymology
Before the Belfrasian Crusade, the Mutul did not have a dedicated word for a navy. It's from contact with the Latins it adopted the word Maj, from the Latin "Mare", as a name for naval forces.
History
In the early stage of the Mutulese Global Circuit there were no unified warfleet to support the Great Companies' enterprises in the Kayatman ocean. Instead said Great Companies' recruited their own mercenaries and personnel in Oxidentale, Ochran, and Malaio alike. The Mutul' warfleet during the War for Kahei was thus mostly composed of privateers and mercenaries from Tsurushima and Shenzhou escorting repurposed-for-warfare trade-vessels. It would also be the first case of the Great Companies pooling funds and creating a joint military command capable of bypassing the Companies' often divergent interests. But such common causes were often temporary affairs and done on an ad-hoc basis.
It is not until the Red Sails Wars and the War in Ankat that the Mutuleses would be forced to consider a more permanent organisation. The Red Sails Wars especially led to the Great Companies taking a more secondary role compared to the royal administration. It is the era during which the Yajawil of Kahei was formalized and the first time a Waterlord was appointed by K'alak Muul. This direct administration by viceroy and generals was a revolution, changing the nature of the Mutul' presence in the Kayatman, Karaihe, and Ozeros seas. It's this renewed and reformed navy that would end the Red Sails Wars in the Mutul' favor as well as begin and end the Ozeros War. The golden age of the Distant Navy paralleled that of the Global Circuit it protected: the first half of the 18th century. in the second half of the 18th century it saw constant interventions, in the Ozeros Sea, in Pulau Keramat (the Perls Wars), Tsurushima (The Tsurushimese Revolution), and Shenzhou. Naval capabilities of the Mutul in the region would only collapse following the loss of Kahei (1820) and the beginning of the Sajal War back in Oxidentale which left the Global Circuit unsupported against the push of rising local powers (Shenzhou, Tsurushima, Pulau Keramat) and foreign competitors (Arthurista).
Organisation and Administration
The K'uhul Ajaw was the nominal supreme commander of the fleet but none of the Mutul rulers took direct control of it. He appointed a Ja’ Yajaw (Waterlord) as his representative, with their administration in Juwen Peten, Yajawil of Kahei. The Ja Yajawtek had themselves delegates in the form of the Aj Majob (translated as Commanders) who each led a Marine. Marines were then divided into Armadas ("Mat") led by Admirals ("Aj Mat"). Armadas were themselves divided in fleet, and fleet in divisions. Divisions were composed of "Battle groups" (Juch'ob) formed of a main Ship of the line (A Tzonk or a Chuwan) and its escort.
| Unit name | commander | Composition | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maj / Marine | Aj Maj / Commander | Two or more Armadas | Mainly an administrative order |
| Mat / Armada | Aj Mat / Admiral | Made of two fleet or more | Mainly an expeditionary order |
| Chumkok / Fleet | Ajaw Tulun / Lord-Sailor | Standard strength of three divisions | A self-reliant unit. Had combat, reconnaissance, logistics and resupply/repair capabilities. |
| Ch'akun / Division | Noj Tulun / Grand-Sailor | Standard strength of three Battle groups | Can be used as individual combat units, especially during "pincer" or "break-neck" maneuvering in high-seas |
| Juch'ob / Battle Group | Aj Tul / Captain | A Ship of the line with one or two auxiliaries and one or two privateers as escort | Operated alone only during scouting or search-and-destroy missions |
At the height of its power, the Distant Navy was made up of five Marines: the 2nd Makrian, 1rst Kayatman, 2nd Kayatman, 1rst Karaihe, and 1rst Ozeros Marines. Their theoretical strength was 40,000 (5 time 8,000, or five "Pik") men: officers, sailors, medical staff, and riflemen included.