Grantville, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Grantville is a fictional West Virginia
town that appears in Eric Flint
's 1632 series
. The American town - including land, people, resources and all - was transported back in time from the year 2000 to the middle of 17th century Europe in central Germany
by irresponsible aliens. Grantville was modeled after the real town of Mannington
, West Virginia.
due to a space-time anomaly caused by an alien race of "artist", the Assiti. Stranded in the past, the town's citizens' decision decided live in this new universe and to "Start the American Revolution [In Central Germany] 150 years early", in the words of (soon to be) President of the 'New United States' Mike Stearns in 1631 Europe. In 1632
, the "Grantvillers" (called up-timers) first allied with neighboring free towns and cities such as Jena
and (fictional) Badenburg to "expand" the 'New United States' systematically as 1631 dragged into 1632, including several early battles to defend allied territory which were pivotal in the rapid growth of the new (radical to 17th century thought) "United States".
Loosely allied with Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus against the Catholic League
led by the day's super powers, Kingdom of Spain and Holy Roman Empire
over the winter of 1631–32, and following summer, the up-timers had early on organized a mixed army of down-timer Germans and up-timer and leadership under Michael Stearns to protect the region. While arrangements with Gustav were cordial, they were not close until the up-timers used their influence to arrange favorable financial terms for Gustav to borrow funds for his war aims. Among other things, the New United States had expropriated the Thuringian territories of Gustav's only reliable German princes, the Duke of Saxe-Weimar
and his brothers (also styled as Dukes of Saxe-Weimar).
With the rumor of this arrangement, the mere possibility of the alliance of an economically strong NUS with Gustavus caused Cardinal Richelieu to switch his support of the Swedish king in the spring of 1632 and generated a direct battle in Grantville in the fall of 1632 with Croatia
n cavalry forces sent by Catholic General Albrecht von Wallenstein
towards the end of the first book to destroy Grantville and its knowledge base. Gustavus himself, leading a small cavalry scouting group, deduced the pending attack and enemy's plan and led his small force of 400 Laplanders and Finnish
light cavalry in a "hell ride" pursuing the enemy cavalry arriving in time annihilating the remaining enemy forces at the town's high school. With the rescue, Stearns recognized the inevitable, the NUS needed a strong protector, and he and Gustav began negotiating an accommodation in the high school library with Rebecca Abrabanel as translator, even as wounded were being triaged and the bodies were being cleared from the hallways and grounds.
The Confederated Principalities of Europe that occasioned at the books end lasted merely a year, ending on the founding of the United States of Europe (October 10, 1633— thereafter "Hans Richter Day" in the German parts of the new empire.) with Stearns as Emperor Gustav's new Prime Minister. Under the new regime, Grantville became the provincial capital of the State of Thuringia-Franconia and the Grantvillers found themselves administering the conquered territory of Franconia
as well as their parts of Thuringia
—most of which belonged to the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar, including nearby free cities and towns.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
town that appears in Eric Flint
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
's 1632 series
1632 series
The 1632 series, also known as the 1632-verse or Ring of Fire series, is an alternate history book series and sub-series created, primarily co-written, and coordinated by Eric Flint and published by Baen Books...
. The American town - including land, people, resources and all - was transported back in time from the year 2000 to the middle of 17th century Europe in central Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by irresponsible aliens. Grantville was modeled after the real town of Mannington
Mannington, West Virginia
Mannington is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States located in the hills of North-Central West Virginia. Known as Mannington since 1856, the town is rich with history and heritage – from Native American relics to frontiersmen and their settlements to Civil War legends...
, West Virginia.
Fictional History
In the spring of 2000, Grantville is a small mining town that it and its inhabitants was transported to central Germany in the middle of the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
due to a space-time anomaly caused by an alien race of "artist", the Assiti. Stranded in the past, the town's citizens' decision decided live in this new universe and to "Start the American Revolution [In Central Germany] 150 years early", in the words of (soon to be) President of the 'New United States' Mike Stearns in 1631 Europe. In 1632
1632 (novel)
1632 is the initial novel in the best-selling alternate history 1632 book series written by historian, writer and editor Eric Flint. The flagship novel kicked off a collaborative writing effort that has involved hundreds of contributors and dozens of authors...
, the "Grantvillers" (called up-timers) first allied with neighboring free towns and cities such as Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
and (fictional) Badenburg to "expand" the 'New United States' systematically as 1631 dragged into 1632, including several early battles to defend allied territory which were pivotal in the rapid growth of the new (radical to 17th century thought) "United States".
Loosely allied with Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus against the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
led by the day's super powers, Kingdom of Spain and Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
over the winter of 1631–32, and following summer, the up-timers had early on organized a mixed army of down-timer Germans and up-timer and leadership under Michael Stearns to protect the region. While arrangements with Gustav were cordial, they were not close until the up-timers used their influence to arrange favorable financial terms for Gustav to borrow funds for his war aims. Among other things, the New United States had expropriated the Thuringian territories of Gustav's only reliable German princes, the Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.Wilhelm was the fifth son of Johann, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt...
and his brothers (also styled as Dukes of Saxe-Weimar).
With the rumor of this arrangement, the mere possibility of the alliance of an economically strong NUS with Gustavus caused Cardinal Richelieu to switch his support of the Swedish king in the spring of 1632 and generated a direct battle in Grantville in the fall of 1632 with Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n cavalry forces sent by Catholic General Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein , actually von Waldstein, was a Bohemian soldier and politician, who offered his services, and an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men during the Danish period of the Thirty Years' War , to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II...
towards the end of the first book to destroy Grantville and its knowledge base. Gustavus himself, leading a small cavalry scouting group, deduced the pending attack and enemy's plan and led his small force of 400 Laplanders and Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
light cavalry in a "hell ride" pursuing the enemy cavalry arriving in time annihilating the remaining enemy forces at the town's high school. With the rescue, Stearns recognized the inevitable, the NUS needed a strong protector, and he and Gustav began negotiating an accommodation in the high school library with Rebecca Abrabanel as translator, even as wounded were being triaged and the bodies were being cleared from the hallways and grounds.
The Confederated Principalities of Europe that occasioned at the books end lasted merely a year, ending on the founding of the United States of Europe (October 10, 1633— thereafter "Hans Richter Day" in the German parts of the new empire.) with Stearns as Emperor Gustav's new Prime Minister. Under the new regime, Grantville became the provincial capital of the State of Thuringia-Franconia and the Grantvillers found themselves administering the conquered territory of Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
as well as their parts of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
—most of which belonged to the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar, including nearby free cities and towns.