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Colliding Histories: Zanzibar and the Freemantle Six
Vengeance in Zanzibar is a classic what if tale based on two fascinating historical courses. The first is the daring escape of the Freemantle Six on the US Whaler, the Catalpa. The second is Zanzibar's struggle to remain independent during the European Imperial age.
The Fenians known as the Freemantle Six
In 1876, six political prisoners escaped Freemantle Prison in an unbelievable rescue that nearly failed. The six men were former soldiers in the British Army who took the Fenian oath to fight for Irish Independence, an act of treason. They had been imprisoned in Freemantle Prison in Australia and were wasted away under the hard conditions. The whaler, the Catalpa, had been hired by Irish immigrants in America and the fugitives were nearly caught on several occasions. Notably, a steamship, the SS Georgette, fired a warning shot on the whaler and was held off by the Captain's threat that an attack on his ship would be an attack on America.
Wikipedia provides a balanced summary of the escape. In reality, the Catalpa sailed back to America without ever stopping at a port. In Vengeance in Zanzibar we decided they should stop in the one free port they might afford.
Pre-Colonial Zanzibar and the Sultan Barghash bin Said
Sultan Barghash bin Said was the second Sultan of Zanzibar and was in many ways the last independent Sultan to rule Zanzibar. Although, he was known to be strict, he was also known to be cunning and frequently played Colonial interests against each other in maneuvers to maintain Zanzibar's Independence. As a result, Zanzibar remained independent while most of the East African coast was taken by the Colonial Empires of Europe. Beyond this feat, The Sultan's rule is notable for the wealth and modern inventions he brought to his country. Although it is noble that the Slave Market was closed under his rule in 1873, it should be noted that he did this as a concession to Western powers.
Although history shows that the British often tested Barghash' diplomatic skills, in Vengeance in Zanzibar, the threat is even more immediate and direct. In many ways, Barghash and the Zanzibari will be put to a test that toppled his successors.
This travel site and the glorious Zanzibar Unveiled provide good resources to the game's time period and what came before and afterwards.
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