B5B

2. This is the point at which the Javanese butterflies start spreading their wings. In OTL, King Airlangga united much of eastern and central Java at about this time. In the Submission Timeline, even the subtle changes that have occurred on Java thus far are probably enough to butterfly him out; even a minor increase in the volume of trade to certain cities would affect marriage alliances and the balance of power between royal houses. (There are also sunspots to think about.)

This means that eastern Java will continue to consist of petty kingdoms for a while longer. Several possibilities suggest themselves for the medium-term future -- formation of a united kingdom under a native dynasty, conquest by the Srivijayans, incorporation of Java into a Bali or Lombok-based empire, or even the arrival of barbarian conquerors from the east and north. I'm not sure which of these to go with, although I welcome suggestions as always.

This is, BTW, the first mention of Airlangga on s.h.w-i. There's room for a great many more WIs involving him -- he's a fascinating character.

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