InfaruV3:De Remuva-Ortiz Expedition

The De Remuva-Ortiz Expedition, officially called the Aréolean Westward Sea Expedition under command of the Marquis de Remuva and Company, was one of the first voyages from Aréole to the New World. Setting sail in 1670, the expedition, manned by de Remuva and Ortiz though approved and financed by the Count of Rochefort, had the goal of finding suitable sites for establishing a new Aréolean presence on the continent. This voyage, and their following return, led to the widespread knowledge of the New World.

Background

After the stabilization and reconquering of the territories of the Kingdom of Aréole from the 14th century through the 15th, the demographic increase in the cities led to economic changes which resulted in rapid developments in technologies, scientific knowledge, and fiscal concepts. New naval reforms, policies that supported maritime trade, and the growing non-noble wealthy notables in the cities during the 15th and 16th centuries, cocurrent with the aforementioned developments, began to an economic golden age and trading domination for the Crown all over Meridia.

The economic prosperity would end following renewed wars against the kingdoms eastern and southern neighbours in the early 17th century. These wars and the tensions they caused on the continent would limit Aréole's trading capacities. In 1666, Sir Réjan-Soleil Gaillard was granted the audience of the King's Court in order to obtain funds for an expedition. This commission was granted and Gaillard set sail in the middle season of that year. Gaillard's plan was to sail westward to reach the other side of the Meridia in order obtain trading rights and to form diplomatic relations with the known Sinfunche Empire.

Instead of reaching the empire, Gaillard landed on the now-named Anguille continent. Confused, Gaillard quickly figured out that this was an entirely new landmass. With the return of the expedition came the news of the new continent. Jean-Jacques XLII quickly saw opportunity and sent Gaillard back but this time with a charter and mandate. The charter granted Gaillard a monopoly of trade and commerce in and around the area he established colony; the mandate was for Gaillard to establish the colony on the new continent. Gaillard with 120 men set up a small fort and post called Marinade. After less than a year, the poor management of Gaillard, who was made governor of the colony, led to widespread starvation and diseases causing the abandonment of the colony. When news of the failure of the colony in 1667 reached the Crown, Gaillard was horrifically executed. The discovered continent and the short-lived colony of Marinade sparked the imagination of many people in the kingdom, especially the landed and wealthy.

Three years after the initial discovery of the new land, members of many castes of Aréolean society went before the King's Court asking for a new expedition. Many sent funds and bribes to higher members of the court in order for the approval of an expedition be made. In 1669 the Court allowed for a new expedition; on the 23th of Floréal of 1670, after the preparations for a foothold colony was readied, an edict was decreed for the establishment of a Crown colony, 3 days later the expedition, led by Sir Aubesol de la Vigne, set sail and reached the continent in middle Prairial. The 300 men of the expedition established of the colony of Anguille.

It was in early 1670 that the Marquis de Remuva heard about the new world as rumours from fishermen. Shortly after the Court's granting of the la Vigne expedition, de Remuva sought to undertake their own expedition. By Prairial of the year, de Remuva had informed the Count of Rochefort of their interest in leading an expedition and establishing a new colony. The Count approved of the idea and granted funding for de Remuva's expedition. The voyage would be 3 ships, two large ones (one full of supplies and materials for the establishment of a colony and one with the number of men needed for the establishment of a colony) with the roles of founding the colony and one smaller vessel that would report the news to the Crown as soon as land has been spotted. In need of a competent second-hand man, de Remuva contacted a lifelong friend Aguirre Ortiz who knew each other from their days in the Royal Navy. Ortiz by this point was well known as a skilled and professional navigator and voyageur popular among many nobles in Aréole. After the proposed expedition was explained to Ortiz they joyfully joined.

Days Leading Up

Final preparations were made, with minor difficulties assessing which crops and livestock would be able to survive the Anguille continent climate; the expedition was to set sail on the 27th of Plairial and reach the continent by the 3rd of Messidor. On the early morning of the 27th, a few hours before setting sail, de Remuva was interrupted by a babbling and crying Renard-Félin Sanslapareille. Some reports say Sanslapareille was on the floor smacking around whining about wanting to join the expedition, while others say they were on one knee begging tearfully to de Remuva. Eitherway, de Remuva conceded and allowed Sanslapareille to join the expedition. They set sail afterwards.

The Voyage

They arrived at the colony of Anguille on the early morning of the 15th of Pluviôse. With a short resupplying, they went off once more. After a few hours of sailing, they reached two large imposing islands. These islands were named Sickjoan islands, after Joan (a cremate who was sick for most of the journey). They left the islands soon afterwards, leaving a giant pillar with two signs that read

IN THE NAME
SUN AND KING
JEAN JACQUES
and Count of RF (Rochefort)

PLUVIOSE 15
1670
M. de REMUVA
SICKJOAN ISLAND(s)

Pillar established at the New Rochefort Territory

A few, longer, hours later, they found new larger island that had a inhabitants. the Marquis de Remuva and Aguirre Ortiz thought this island would be the perfect base of operations for a new enterprise. They spoke to the Headman of the Village, and after some negotiations, obtained the permission to build a structure on top of the hill. The territory and fort were named New Rochefort, in honor of the Count and County of Rochefort. As the a portion of the crew were constructing the fort and writing into their diaries the new discoveries, Renard-Félin and Ava, a lesser ranking member of the crew, continued a bit farther to explore around the sea; they would find and name Félin Island and Vienor Island. After returning from Félin Island, the crew prepared a stock of newly acquired wealth (from mining and trading with the Villagers) to sell at the Crown market and to present the Count and King the fortune that awaits with the new discoveries. It was then that the members of the expedition decided to form the New Rochefort Company.

Aftermath

Following the expedition, forts and plantations were established all over the north islands of the New World. These efforts culminated in the sanctioning of an official monopoly over the New Rochefort and Territories making de Remuva the governor.