Novum Romanum Imperium 2.0 -- a Vicky 2 AHD Conversion AAR

[Avindian]

Yay! Party over at my place!

Perhaps you mean PAARty?

[Mr. Santiago]

Perhaps you mean PAARty?

Hey, how's a PAARty like?
People gather to log into the forums and read AARS in silence?
lol

[Qorten]

Alright people, enough random chatter, back to the AAR or wait until Avindian gets into writing again please.

[Avindian]

The lost case files, part one

Note: This is the first of two (possibly three) Ministry of Security files that I'll be writing in the next couple of weeks. I won't mention them in the story proper; think of these as having been completed shortly after the events, as the result of investigations. I get back home late on the 29th; I'll probably start posting proper updates again the first week of July.

Case file: 78573-91832
Subject name: Robespierre, Sylvia
Alias: Datti, Laura
Birthplace: Jerusalem, 6 June 1830.
Current status: Deceased. Killed herself in the dungeon, 25 December 1875. Arrested 24 December 1875 for assassination of Constantine XII.

Subject Robespierre was the granddaughter of Maximillien Robespierre, the original leader of the Jacobins. Sylvia was recruited on her 18th birthday by her father, Sebastien Robespierre. Sebastien, in addition to running the Jerusalem cell of the Jacobins, was also one of the members of the Executive Committee of the Jacobins. Sebastien took the name "Cosimo Datti" as part of his cover identity. Agents of the Ministry report that this was done as a thumb in the eye to the Empire; the idea of actually claiming the throne came from Sylvia. There is no evidence that, at present, Cyrus, the son, was involved with the Jacobins or even aware his ancestry was not Italian.

Sylvia engineered a coup of the Jacobins shortly after her father's death in 1852. Circumstantial evidence suggests she may even have killed her father, although this is not currently proven. Regardless, Sylvia Robespierre took her father's place on the Executive Committee as well as the Jerusalem cell. After meeting Constantine XII, she planned the Jacobin Rising of 1856, including the first attempted assassination of the Emperor. When that failed, she decided to seize the Empire in another way: by marrying the Emperor.

The Ministry does not have the full details of her plan; however, there is some speculation that upon the birth of her first child, Ferdinand, she focused her attention on raising her son. An investigation into what she may have told him is ongoing; he is also under surveillance for possible Jacobin activity. Once Ferdinand was old enough to inherit his father's throne, Sylvia resumed her efforts to kill the Emperor and seize control of the Empire.

The events of 24 December 1875 are already well known and will not be repeated here. There is fragmentary evidence suggesting she has at least one more son in addition to Ferdinand and Gabriele; his whereabouts are unknown, but he is presumed to hold his mother's former position in Jerusalem and within the Jacobins as a whole.

[EU3NOOB]

Jolly good post, my good man!

[Avindian]

Jolly good post, my good man!

Thank you!

BTW, I'm willing to listen to suggestions for future files; no historical figures, but anybody else is fair game.

[Duke of Awesome]

Ferdinand should have a file as well, I think. Also thanks for updating during your vacation! How is it?

[Anjwalker]

Fascinating file. Thanks for the mid-holiday updates

[Avindian]

Ferdinand should have a file as well, I think. Also thanks for updating during your vacation! How is it?

Vacation is both very informative and very exhausting. Thanks for asking!

Ferdinand is actually a great idea. I hadn't thought of that!

Fascinating file. Thanks for the mid-holiday updates

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[Avindian]

I'm afraid the second mini-update will be a bit delayed; I'll try for tomorrow or Wednesday.

[Avindian]

The lost case files, part 2

Archivist's note:
Marco, I know you requested the file on the life of Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Constantinople, but remember, by law, the Ministry of Security is not allowed to compile files on members of the Imperial family. I did, however, find this interesting transcript of the Inheritance Commission's report. I hope you'll find it useful. -- Stefano

Transcriber's note:
The following transcript is a verbatim record of the Commission for Ferdinand's Inheritance. If you are unfamiliar with it, the Inheritance Commission was established as a check against another Civil War. If there is more than one legitimate claimant -- or simply if the legitimate claimant is unfit to rule -- the Commission can strip him or her of their rights by birth.

Commission for the Question of the Inheritance of Ferdinand di Farnese, Prince of Constantinople and eldest son of Constantine XII, dated 30 December 1875.

Present:
Benjamin Disraeli, Chancellor and leader of the Pecuniares
Spurius Porcius Cato, Deputy Chancellor and leader of the Provincares
Otto von Bismarck, Foreign Minister and leader of the Protectores
Arturo Orsatti, Minister of Security
Gaius Tullius Cicero, leader of the Militares
Iosif Stavros, Minister of Education and leader of the Agricolares

Absent:
Edward Vickers, Minister of Commerce (illness)

D[israeli]: Let us call the inheritance commission to order. Please send in the claimants.

Trajan and Ferdinand enter the chamber.

D: The question before us today is the legitimacy of the claims of these two gentlemen. In order to assess this accurately and fairly, we must address three questions.

1.) How much did Ferdinand know about the plot to assassinate Emperor Constantine XII?
2.) How much sympathy does Ferdinand have for the Jacobins and the Jacobin cause?
3.) Is Gabriele eligible to inherit the throne?

Arturo, please share your notes with the commission.

O[rsatti]: As you all know, gentlemen, I cannot legally enact surveillance on a member of the Imperial Family. My evidence is therefore somewhat light. I have a sworn statement from three of Ferdinand's guards that recount discussion between Ferdinand and his mother about the Jacobins and Jacobin causes. One of my agents suspects that an article in the recent Roman Times was penned by the Prince.

F[erdinand]: Hah! You persecute me unfairly, just as you have my poor, departed mother!

B[ismarck]: Surely you do not dispute that your mother killed your father?

F: I was not there, Minister. How could I possibly know what happened? All I know is that my father is dead and my mother was executed for the crime.

D: That matter is settled, Ferdinand. You are not to bring it up again.

F: Or what?

Silence for approximately two minutes. Then the commission resumed.

D: Does anybody else have any evidence to present?

S[tavros]: I have records that Ferdinand has read a great deal of Jacobin literature and has even lectured upon it.

D: Is this true?

F: This is Rome, not some barbarian land! I may read what I wish.

O: Jacobin tracts are forbidden by law.

F: I am the Prince! I am above the law!

Extreme agitation from all parties. Disraeli bangs his gavel multiple times before order is restored.

C[ato]: Even if he has read these works, does it necessarily prove he was part of the plot?

D: A good point, Spurius. Arturo?

O: Given how much time Ferdinand and L- Sylvia spent together, it is almost inconceivable that he was not in some way aware of her intentions.

F [sneering]: My father spent even more time with her than I did; perhaps he was also part of the conspiracy!

D: You are not helping yourself, Ferdinand. Arturo, any conclusive proof?

O: No, Benjamin.

D: Does any other member of the commission have anything further to add on this point?

Chorus of 'no's.

D: Then question 1 is dismissed due to lack of evidence. Regarding question 2, we know that he is familiar with Jacobin literature. Any further evidence, Arturo?

O: My agents have been shadowing Gaston Robespierre for some time; we did not know his last name or his family connections at the time, but we now know he is the son of Sylvia Robespierre, although not by Constantine XII. Gaston has, on at least two occasions, been spotted with the Prince.

F: You cannot accept this! There is to be no surveillance on me!

D: He just told you he was watching Gaston, not you. Please keep a civil tongue in your head. Arturo?

O: Gaston explicitly addressed Ferdinand as his "younger brother", and invited Ferdinand to speak. He appeared very knowledgeable about the Jacobin cause, according to my agent.

D: Does anybody else have something to contribute?

S: I can report an altercation between the Prince and one of my editors at the Roman Red Star. The Prince personally castigated a former Jacobin on the staff for "betraying the true cause of freedom." I witnessed this in person.

T[rajan]: Ferdinand has been caught distributing Jacobin materials to my generals.

F: You cannot speak against me! It's a conflict of interest!

D: He is also the Marshal of the Empire. He may speak in that persona. Do you have documentary evidence, Trajan?

T: Yes.

D: Then it is acceptable. In my opinion, it is conclusive; Ferdinand has Jacobin sympathies. We must now vote on whether or not this disqualifies him from being Emperor. I vote Yes.

Votes tallied: 6-0 in favor.

D: By the power invested in me by the laws of the Roman Empire, I offer you two choices: you may either abdicate on behalf of yourself and all your heirs or you will be forcibly stripped of your candidacy and exiled from the Empire. Which do you choose?

F: I abdicate nothing. If you exile me, I will come back, with an army if I must!

D: The convicted has made a threat against the Empire. What does the commission recommend?

B: Death!

O: Death!

S: Exile!

C: Exile!

Cicero: Death!

D: Then death it is. Ferdinand di Farnese, you will hang by the neck until dead within two days.

F: Uh, wait -- I retract my statement! I will abdicate! I don't want to die!

Ferdinand begs for mercy. It is granted by a vote of 5-1, only Bismarck refusing.

D: You have legally abdicated your rights, for yourself and yours, to inherit the throne of the New Roman Empire. Any attempt to press a claim in the future will result in the implementation of the sentence of death. You may live within the Empire, but you may not take part in any political debate, allow troops to be raised in your name, or refer to yourself by any name other than 'Ferdinand.' Is this understood.

F: Yes.

D: Then you may go.

Ferdinand is escorted from the chamber by the guards.

D: We have one final question to decide today. Who will inherit the throne? There are three possible candidates: Gabriele, the youngest son of Sylvia Robespierre and Constantine XII; Trajan, the younger brother of Constantine XII; or Leopoldo, the son of Trajan and Nellie Grant.

B: A point of order; neither Gabriele or Leopoldo are old enough to rule in their own names. Gabriele is seven, while Leopoldo is just barely two years old. The real question is whether Trajan will rule in his own name, his nephew's, or his son's.

S: Gabriele is too young to have absorbed his mother's proclivities; I do not believe it is fair to exclude him from the succession.

B: We cannot possibly know whether this "republicanism" has infected the lad, no matter his age. I put it to a vote!

Bismarck, Disraeli, and Cicero vote to exclude Gabriele; Stavros, Cato, and Orsatti vote not to.

D: I propose a compromise; we, or our successors, will decide this question when Gabriele achieves his majority.

Unanimous vote for the compromise.

D: Then I now proclaim Trajan to be Trajan III, Emperor of the New Roman Emperor. All hail the new Emperor!

Much cheering and celebrations.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Archivist's note:

Trajan is Trajan III because the official historians consider 'Trajan Decius' to be a Trajan.
-------------------------------------------------------------
If all goes according to plan, I'll have a proper update for you next week; this will be the last of the mini-updates. I hope you enjoyed them!

[Omen]

I did enjoy the update. A fascinating look into the corridors of power . . .

[Mr. Santiago]

Nice update. Turns out Ferdinand has a big mouth but lacks the backbone to take it to the end. Well, that's another angry disinhereted claimant to deal with, not the first and not the last of his kind

[Avindian]

Nice update. Turns out Ferdinand has a big mouth but lacks the backbone to take it to the end. Well, that's another angry disinhereted claimant to deal with, not the first and not the last of his kind

We have not seen the last of Ferdinand. Or have we? I haven't decided yet.

I did enjoy the update. A fascinating look into the corridors of power . . .

Glad you liked it!

[Duke of Awesome]

That was pretty good, thanks for updating during your vacation. I must admit that the "compromise" made me laugh in that they put to vote what I do whenever I have an essay.

[Avindian]

That was pretty good, thanks for updating during your vacation. I must admit that the "compromise" made me laugh in that they put to vote what I do whenever I have an essay.

Glad you enjoyed it!

[Sarayakat]

Why in the world would you even consider giving the throne over to Gabriele upon reaching his majority? Stepping down in favor of an 18 year old seems like it would be an invitation to disaster. That line is tainted. Better to let them all live, decline and perish on some remote island somewhere, with a suitable guard of course.

Thanks for the updates.

[Avindian]

Why in the world would you even consider giving the throne over to Gabriele upon reaching his majority? Stepping down in favor of an 18 year old seems like it would be an invitation to disaster. That line is tainted. Better to let them all live, decline and perish on some remote island somewhere, with a suitable guard of course.

Thanks for the updates.

You're welcome Re: Gabriele, I haven't decided yet. We'll just have to see.

[EU3NOOB]

Epic update! And an epic Emperor name!

[Duke of Britain]

Ooh, that was great, and that Ferdinand, what a sorry excuse for a prince!