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Background for Fantasy Novel
Jan. 4th, 2009 09:48 pmLittle of this will appear in the actual story, but I'd like folks opinions on the altered history.
In this fantasy world one of Charlemagne's grandsons died young, leaving only one heir after Louis the Pious died, so the empire remained intact longer. Eventually it split in a religious schism over the nature of the Trinity (One God with three aspects, or three gods who act as one? Die, heretic!!) but by then significant diversion had occurred from our timeline.
In the history of this world the Carolingian Rebirth (most commonly called the Awakening by those living here) continued for over a century longer than in our world, and spread through more of society, beyond the courts and monastaries. Schools became more widespread and accepted a wider range of students. One of the more bizarre results was a rediscovery of magic, through means and events not today known. However, magic was regarded with - at the very least - suspicion by all sources of authority for several more centuries, only slowly gaining acceptance by kings and churches.
Another benefit of the extended Carolingian Rebirth was the standardization of language. Although the Carolingians and many others later went their own way, for centuries much of Europe spoke with one tongue, the oral version of Carolingian miniscule. Today, while Europe is a place of many tongues, most of those are modern descendants of this common language with little difference between them. A simplified version of that same tongue is still a near-universal trade and diplomatic language, much as English is in our world.
Women gradually gained improved status in the Empire. This was greatly aided by the adoption of the Stenoses among those states which accepted it. The tradition extends from Charlemagne, himself, who had several female knights.
Ironically, a conservative reaction to the more extensive Carolingian Awakening of this world resulted in a rejection of many intellectual concepts and social changes - as well as the benefits these should have brought - through much of Europe. (The magic part certainly didn't help with that.) Many of the accomplishments of the early days of the Empire were undone in the following centuries. Stagnation and stultification set in, which (among other results) delayed what in our world were the Italian Renaissance and the Enlightenment. This was in no small part because of the reaction to the "forbidden knowledge" (magic prime among that) uncovered by the Carolingian Awakening. With the stagnation came corruption, and a strong desire by those in power to maintain the status quo. Social, economic and intellectual reforms were slow in coming, and even slower being accepted.
Because of this conservatism there was increasing argument over what many in other times and places would consider trivial distinctions. Since the Carolingian Empire was in control of Rome it was more directly affected than most political entities by dissent within the Church. The arguments between different factions in the Empire became increasingly heated and the adherents of differing viewpoints increasingly polarized. Those outside wishing to tap the power of the Empire made use of these schisms. A faction would be backed - usually covertly - by someone outside, especially if the particular faction espoused views similar to those of the outsider. This eventually led to a split between the eastern and western portions of the Empire, though not until well after it became the Compact. Similar disruptions were taking place through much of the known world, for the same reasons. To a large extent this was due to the conflict between what needed to be done and what the rulers were willing to do.
The creation of the Compact began as part of a reversal of the conservative trend, at least in the Empire and some of its allies. It also greatly stimulated the reversal. At first "The Compact" was simply the name of a joint declaration from the Pope and King of that time in regard to a change in Church policies. Later it became the name of the Western portion of the Empire, after the Divergence. The initial changes were small, and further progress slow, but they did occur. Several factors led to a gradual improvement in the status of mages in general and the move away from the stereotype that all female magicians were witches. One was the simple fact that women could work magic as well as men, making them as formidable (and useful) as male magic users. Another was the adoption of the Stenoses, which firmly stated women were people in the second Stanza. These and other factors led to a gradual improvement of the status of women overall, until they actually were more nearly equal to men than even during the heyday of the early Empire. However, these liberal changes led to many disputes between different subcultures within the Empire. Those eventually split the kingdom into the Compact and Carolina.
Most nations and states remained staid and bogged down in their own history during this period. For a time during the early years of the Compact there was some stimulus from the rising influence of Islam, but then it, too, entered a strongly conservative period. The Crusades served to stir things a bit, but because any contact between the two regions introduced new concepts to both, they soon became quietly discouraged, and sometimes actively sabotaged. The schism which split the Empire was seen by many rulers as proof that change was dangerous foolishness.
What kept others from taking advantage of the situation in the flailing Empire during the Divergence Conflict was that others were also affected by events which led to it. The knowledge - and in many cases the creatures - which came with the return of magic had spread widely by this time. In all cultures there are those who wish to know, and some of them will learn, no matter how forbidden the knowledge. In all of Europe, Russia, China, the northern portion of Africa and well into India the basics of magic spread. In every one of these places, attempts to work magic brought magical creatures into the world. Few actually learned it well enough to be capable of more than the most minor feats. Of those few, only a handful desired to directly affect the political structure of their area. But those were enough.
Long after the otherworldly, ageless Great Elves left the human sphere, nations and cultures were still learning to deal with magic. For a thousand years the way most dealt with it was to ban it.
However, the success of some healers who used magic to treat the Black Death started a long, slow process of acceptance. In a form of cultural evolution, those areas where such healers were tolerated came out of the plague era with more people, speeding their recovery. Combined with the desire of some to secretly - and sometimes not so secretly - use magic to further their own ends, magic and magical studies continued in spite of all official policies opposed to such activities. As alchemy was supported in our world by the wealthy who wished to be wealthier, in this world the powerful who wished greater power - or to secure what power they already held - supported magicians. Which only increased the desire of many to eliminate the practice of magic.
One of the most easily accepted uses of magic was in healing. Medical knowledge was slowly rebuilding, but magic could produce spectacular success in situations where mundane medicine could at best reduce suffering. However, in many cases magical healing was the jealously guarded secret of the ruling powers.
Ironically, this covert support and use of magic - and the survival of a greater portion of the population and infrastructure where magical healing was available - meant that where magic was allowed society changed more slowly.
Eventually, a combination of internal and external influences led to changes for the Empire, as well as elsewhere. For example, the Hanseatic League was so economically successful that they worried other nations. Some turned to magic in an attempt to match them. Rumors of "holy magicians" in Islam and other religions worried the "defenders of Christendom." The fact that in some parts of India magic users were appreciated to the point of worship supported these fears.
Most cultures eventually - and grudgingly - learned to tolerate magic users, or simply were taken over by those who did. For centuries only a few governments officially incorporated mages and their services, but all used them.
Because of these differences - a slightly less severe impact from the Black Death, the greater conservatism among nobility and clergy, availability of magic - social, economic and technological changes came more slowly to this world than it did to ours.
In this fantasy world one of Charlemagne's grandsons died young, leaving only one heir after Louis the Pious died, so the empire remained intact longer. Eventually it split in a religious schism over the nature of the Trinity (One God with three aspects, or three gods who act as one? Die, heretic!!) but by then significant diversion had occurred from our timeline.
In the history of this world the Carolingian Rebirth (most commonly called the Awakening by those living here) continued for over a century longer than in our world, and spread through more of society, beyond the courts and monastaries. Schools became more widespread and accepted a wider range of students. One of the more bizarre results was a rediscovery of magic, through means and events not today known. However, magic was regarded with - at the very least - suspicion by all sources of authority for several more centuries, only slowly gaining acceptance by kings and churches.
Another benefit of the extended Carolingian Rebirth was the standardization of language. Although the Carolingians and many others later went their own way, for centuries much of Europe spoke with one tongue, the oral version of Carolingian miniscule. Today, while Europe is a place of many tongues, most of those are modern descendants of this common language with little difference between them. A simplified version of that same tongue is still a near-universal trade and diplomatic language, much as English is in our world.
Women gradually gained improved status in the Empire. This was greatly aided by the adoption of the Stenoses among those states which accepted it. The tradition extends from Charlemagne, himself, who had several female knights.
Ironically, a conservative reaction to the more extensive Carolingian Awakening of this world resulted in a rejection of many intellectual concepts and social changes - as well as the benefits these should have brought - through much of Europe. (The magic part certainly didn't help with that.) Many of the accomplishments of the early days of the Empire were undone in the following centuries. Stagnation and stultification set in, which (among other results) delayed what in our world were the Italian Renaissance and the Enlightenment. This was in no small part because of the reaction to the "forbidden knowledge" (magic prime among that) uncovered by the Carolingian Awakening. With the stagnation came corruption, and a strong desire by those in power to maintain the status quo. Social, economic and intellectual reforms were slow in coming, and even slower being accepted.
Because of this conservatism there was increasing argument over what many in other times and places would consider trivial distinctions. Since the Carolingian Empire was in control of Rome it was more directly affected than most political entities by dissent within the Church. The arguments between different factions in the Empire became increasingly heated and the adherents of differing viewpoints increasingly polarized. Those outside wishing to tap the power of the Empire made use of these schisms. A faction would be backed - usually covertly - by someone outside, especially if the particular faction espoused views similar to those of the outsider. This eventually led to a split between the eastern and western portions of the Empire, though not until well after it became the Compact. Similar disruptions were taking place through much of the known world, for the same reasons. To a large extent this was due to the conflict between what needed to be done and what the rulers were willing to do.
The creation of the Compact began as part of a reversal of the conservative trend, at least in the Empire and some of its allies. It also greatly stimulated the reversal. At first "The Compact" was simply the name of a joint declaration from the Pope and King of that time in regard to a change in Church policies. Later it became the name of the Western portion of the Empire, after the Divergence. The initial changes were small, and further progress slow, but they did occur. Several factors led to a gradual improvement in the status of mages in general and the move away from the stereotype that all female magicians were witches. One was the simple fact that women could work magic as well as men, making them as formidable (and useful) as male magic users. Another was the adoption of the Stenoses, which firmly stated women were people in the second Stanza. These and other factors led to a gradual improvement of the status of women overall, until they actually were more nearly equal to men than even during the heyday of the early Empire. However, these liberal changes led to many disputes between different subcultures within the Empire. Those eventually split the kingdom into the Compact and Carolina.
Most nations and states remained staid and bogged down in their own history during this period. For a time during the early years of the Compact there was some stimulus from the rising influence of Islam, but then it, too, entered a strongly conservative period. The Crusades served to stir things a bit, but because any contact between the two regions introduced new concepts to both, they soon became quietly discouraged, and sometimes actively sabotaged. The schism which split the Empire was seen by many rulers as proof that change was dangerous foolishness.
What kept others from taking advantage of the situation in the flailing Empire during the Divergence Conflict was that others were also affected by events which led to it. The knowledge - and in many cases the creatures - which came with the return of magic had spread widely by this time. In all cultures there are those who wish to know, and some of them will learn, no matter how forbidden the knowledge. In all of Europe, Russia, China, the northern portion of Africa and well into India the basics of magic spread. In every one of these places, attempts to work magic brought magical creatures into the world. Few actually learned it well enough to be capable of more than the most minor feats. Of those few, only a handful desired to directly affect the political structure of their area. But those were enough.
Long after the otherworldly, ageless Great Elves left the human sphere, nations and cultures were still learning to deal with magic. For a thousand years the way most dealt with it was to ban it.
However, the success of some healers who used magic to treat the Black Death started a long, slow process of acceptance. In a form of cultural evolution, those areas where such healers were tolerated came out of the plague era with more people, speeding their recovery. Combined with the desire of some to secretly - and sometimes not so secretly - use magic to further their own ends, magic and magical studies continued in spite of all official policies opposed to such activities. As alchemy was supported in our world by the wealthy who wished to be wealthier, in this world the powerful who wished greater power - or to secure what power they already held - supported magicians. Which only increased the desire of many to eliminate the practice of magic.
One of the most easily accepted uses of magic was in healing. Medical knowledge was slowly rebuilding, but magic could produce spectacular success in situations where mundane medicine could at best reduce suffering. However, in many cases magical healing was the jealously guarded secret of the ruling powers.
Ironically, this covert support and use of magic - and the survival of a greater portion of the population and infrastructure where magical healing was available - meant that where magic was allowed society changed more slowly.
Eventually, a combination of internal and external influences led to changes for the Empire, as well as elsewhere. For example, the Hanseatic League was so economically successful that they worried other nations. Some turned to magic in an attempt to match them. Rumors of "holy magicians" in Islam and other religions worried the "defenders of Christendom." The fact that in some parts of India magic users were appreciated to the point of worship supported these fears.
Most cultures eventually - and grudgingly - learned to tolerate magic users, or simply were taken over by those who did. For centuries only a few governments officially incorporated mages and their services, but all used them.
Because of these differences - a slightly less severe impact from the Black Death, the greater conservatism among nobility and clergy, availability of magic - social, economic and technological changes came more slowly to this world than it did to ours.
