The Almost Forgotten

Season 5 is coming, and here's a little preview

The 30 Years War has helped rekindle the 80 Years War, and the Dutch are again fighting for their nation's survival. But now they do so as a burgeoning major power on the European stage, led by William the Silent's youngest son, the new Prince of Orange, Frederick Henry. The Dutch stave off conquest and are formerly recognized by Spain and the rest of the world as an independent power with the Pea...

Maurice continued to lead the Dutch Republic's army to victories, while Johan van Oldenbarnevelt ran the government. They negotiated a 12 Years Truce with Spain, but the outbreak of the 30 Years War brought renewed hostilities in the 80 Years War

Alexander was stuck in the Netherlands with a large army, so he returned to his old gig of attacking and taking Dutch cities. This time the Dutch had an answer, though, in the form of Maurice of Nassau, William the Silent's son

Without William, the Dutch Republic presses on, and they get the Earl of Leicester to help them out against Alexander Farnese, the Duke of Parma, and Philip's governor in the Netherlands. The Dutch begin to run as a republic. Philip launches the Spanish Armada to take Farnese and his troops from the Low Countries to England. 

The Dutch Republic is slowly being retaken by Alexander Farnese. The Dutch form the Union of Utrecht to unite the remaining provinces, and then finally declare independence with the Act of Abjuration. And we see the end of William the Silent.

The Spanish under Alba had crushed the revolt, but William gained a new foothold in Holland and Zeeland. Alba was gone, the Spanish were mutinous, and William took advantage, while the Dutch scrambled for a new royal figurehead

William the Silent tries to arrange an invasion of the Netherlands. He succeeds in raising forces, but in the end the Dutch Rebels are beaten back. They do establish a foothold in Holland and Zeeland, though, thanks to the Sea Beggars

As King Philip II of Spain attempts to destroy heresy in the Low Countries, and tramples on the rights and privileges of the people there, the Dutch nobility have begun to push back. Philip responds by sending his greatest general, the Duke of Alba, while the Dutch people have their own responses in mind.

William the Silent, Prince of Orange-Nassau, was a leading noble in the Habsburg Netherlands. King Charles V split his empire in two, and gave the low countries to Spain, despite its cultural and religious similarities to the Holy Roman Empire. William would find his new sovereign, King Philip II of Spain to be a harsh and uncompromising ruler who would help sow the seeds of revolt in the territor...

Roger II consolidated all of the Norman holdings in Sicily and Southern Italy into one united and long lasting kingdom. His ability as an administrator and statesman helped propel him past the other Norman leaders to become the first king of the Normans in Italy.

Norman Robert Guiscard, entered at the dawn of the Norman conquest of Italy, defeated his enemies and pushed aside his competing family members to take the whole of southern Italy, much of Sicily, and parts of the Balkan Peninsula.

Queen Seondeok of Silla, helped lead the kingdom to eventually unite the Korean peninsula within a few decades of her reign

Ardashir rose from being the commander of a fortress in southern Persia to leading the overthrow of the Parthian dynasty. He created the Sassanid Empire, which lasted 4 centuries, and greatly influence culture in the region even to this day.

The greatest king of the Hittites, Suppiluliuma helped turn the Anatolian kingdom into perhaps the most powerful empire in the world, for a time

Brief overview of what's to come, plus some interesting follow-up from a previous subject

Eugene of Savoy was denied the ability to serve his native France in the military, so he went to Vienna, where he spent the next 50 years commanding forces, much of it against France.

Jayavarman VII was a prince who saw his empire invaded and capital sacked. He became king and expanded the weakened Khmer empire to perhaps its greatest territorial extent. He also left a legacy of architectural wonders that still attract visitors today.

Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi ruled Yemen for over 50 years. She was a strong ruler and became the patron of a branch of Islam that survives today thanks in part to her efforts.

Clovis united the Franks and helped solidify them as the dominant power in northwestern Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. He created the first Kingdom of France and also helped built out what would becomes Charlemagne's Empire.

Zhang Qian was sent by the Han Chinese emperor to enlist the help of a distant nation in war against a common enemy. Zhang was unable to form an alliance. Instead, he formed the relationships that led directly to the silk road, connecting China and the west.

Ptolemy and Seleucus continue to battle with their neighboring Hellenistic kingdoms. Their empires and Macedon continue on for more than a century, before decline and eventual destruction at the hands of the Romans

Antigonus rules all of Asia, but chasing out Seleucus gives Ptolemy and the others an opportunity to check his power

After the death of Perdiccas, Antigonus chases Eumenes halfway across the empire. In Europe, a fight begins over Antipater's position after his death

Perdiccas uses his role as regent to the Macedonian kings to try to consolidate power. But the other Diadochi - Ptolemy in Egypt, Antipater in Europe, and Antigonus in Anatolia - have plans of their own