The Rebirth of England - Woodhouse Dynasty Part II

[Woody Man]

First, congratulations on your award. Very well deserved.

Second...When will the clash between parliment and the King come about. Seems to me the prelude to an English Cival War. Could Roundheads be lurking around the corner?

Thank you!

I would say the Britain is edging towards a conflict of values, to use an analogy, the British empire is a huge pot, now not only have we thrown in a ton of new ingredients with in a relatively short space of time, we've also thrown a forest on the fire, its just a matter of time until the pot boils over and the King can't keep the lid on it, though I think its fairly safe to say that this event won't be an English Civil War, it may even be a World war...

 

[Trondheim]

Wonderful updates. Always nice to see Britain grow, but the actions of King Robert seem like they will lead to trouble in the future. Congrats on the award as well!

The Egyptian Canada just made me go LOL. Don't let them dominate the fur trade!

 

[unmerged(70701)]

Is any British involvement in China planned?

 

[Woody Man]

Trondheim - Thank you! haha the Egyptian Canada was one colonial power I didn't want, it made me sigh haha, I kept hoping Mecklenburg would take them down.

Sr. Toledo - Not yet, but I'm sure with a growing opium trade such involvement will be unavoidable..

 

[unmerged(60841)]

The Woodhouses have come a long way from Lancaster. Be careful about your hegemony.

 

[Woody Man]

The Woodhouses have come a long way from Lancaster. Be careful about your hegemony.

Lets hope they don't forget their roots eh?

Good to see you back JimboIX!

 

[gigau]

I don't post each time... ibut i really love your AAR Great work

 

[Woody Man]

I don't post each time... ibut i really love your AAR Great work

Thank you Gigau! And nice to see you here




Bit of a sitrep..

Will have update tomorrow hopefully, and then I intend to bury myself in homework

 

[unmerged(62343)]

Homework? What's homework? Wait...it's coming back to me...some vague recollections of....nope, sorry...lost it.

 

[Woody Man]

Homework? What's homework? Wait...it's coming back to me...some vague recollections of....nope, sorry...lost it.

Awww lucky

Update incoming! A few minutes past midnight I grant you

 

[Woody Man]

Je suis l'etat et l'etat est moi!
(I am the State!)

-Louis XIV

The Wrong Empire, Part VIII

The Cast

Robert I, King of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and France, Holy Roman Emperor
Bevan VII, King of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and France, Holy Roman Emperor
Clement XIII, His Holiness, the Pope
King Francisco I, King of Iberia
Edward Woodhouse, Duke of York and Commander of his Majesties forces in India​

The completion of the first American University brought the intellectual undercurrents of the New World into the fore. The European Empire was already beginning to feel the effects of Robert I’s increasing autonomy, New England however had lived under the hand of the Viceroy of New England, for many years this had been a happy situation for all involved, the Viceroyalty of New England operated much like its own country, raising its own army, building its own navy and rarely if ever, taking part in European conflicts. The result was a very decentralised de facto government in New England, headed by the Viceroy, but more often than not, governed by the regional heads of the colonies. Robert I’s efforts were now bringing this arrangement to a close. Eager for more power over the colonies, Robert pushed for a more centralised government, answerable to him rather than the Viceroy and began to draw up plans for an Imperial recruitment quota rather than the ad-hoc militia previously formed. For many of the leading colonials, this was a move too far, these Royal measures were in direct contradiction to the idea of English liberty, something which the New England Imperial University loved to elaborate on. On the 3rd of May, 1752 representatives from the 29 Counties in the British New World met in Saint Mary county to discuss the Empire’s situation and to draft a petition of their grievances and send it to Parliament.

The letter, never reached Parliament, on the 26th of November, Parliament was dissolved by King Robert. The King now ruled in totality. Many of the Anglican faction departed for the colonies finding new support in New England and Australia. Parliament’s last act was the Official warning sent to Saxony, even this had been done on the King’s orders. In less than three months, the Colonists who had met in May in the Saint Mary county met again, the first Colonial Assembly was formed in the Halls of the University, the Council met with the hopes of petitioning the King of reinstituting their old system of government in the colonies, some radicals spoke of further measures, some even spoke against the King, some historians now say that King Robert may have been more receptive to their petition had it not been for the more radical elements within the assembly. In any case, the radical minority undermined the Assembly’s position and the King denied both an audience and a recognition of their grievances. The representatives were disappointed but not defeated, they returned to their homes, but still the ideals of the assembly weren’t forgotten.

In Europe however, things weren’t so civilised, in France the citizens of Brittany and Lorraine rose once again in revolt against the King, new soldiers were drafted to expand the garrisons of France and put down the revolt. In Scotland a minor rebellion broke out and lay siege to the city of Edinburgh, the Kings army, lately expanded to twenty thousand men marched north and put down the revolt. Despite the widespread disapproval of the Kings new authority, all rebellions were crushed. Higher rates of pay and new privileges kept the armed forces on his side as well as the resurgent aristocracy who took back their old positions. Even in the New World, many were unwilling to raise arms against the King, especially when many were seeking new aristocratic connections. However, the Colonial representatives, would not be deterred and they met once again on the 29th July 1754 and drafted a second petition. Requesting the return of the Viceroy’s executive powers and a repeal of the 1753 Recruitment Order. This time the petition was more successful. The lessons of the British and European revolts had been deeply imprinted in Roberts mind. Robert would accept parts of the petition, namely the repeal of the 1753 Recruitment act, arming potential rebels would be a bad idea, especially when the regulars were still fighting rebels in Europe. However, the governmental system now set in place within New England would stay, the Viceroy would now be just a middle man between the Colonies and the King. The Representatives took what they could, though the new governance would have dire costs for tax efficiency and overseas income. Trade between Britain and the Empire dropped by an estimated 6%, while all over the Empire tax income fell by 10% as the bureaucracy attempted to adjust, this situation was estimated to have lasted for almost a year and further soured relations between the King and his aristocratic faction and the mercantile population of the Empire.

The 1750’s became a hard decade for all involved, sporadic revolts spread across Britain and France, American Natives, taking advantage of the apparent weakness of the colonies launched raids that the New England Militia struggled to defend against. In India a resistance against the encroaching Catholic conversion sprang up. Despite the numerous rebellions, the army was ready and willing to destroy resistance to the Kings authority. By 1760, the situation was beginning to settle down, the Empire had reached a stable level and the rebellions of the previous decade had disappeared. The Natives of India converted to Catholicism or were forced out. Though such outward expressions of unhappiness had now disappeared, the people still suffered under the heavy handed rule of King Robert.

Robert’s last act as King was to commission a national anthem, written by the French composer Jean-Marie Leclair, hoping to meld the Empire into a cohesive whole and to turn its mind away from lost liberties. The piece was not immediately popular, much to Roberts chagrin and many political activists parodied or wrote their own anthems. The words approved by the King were fairly popular among loyalist factions and sung on occasion.

Britannia! Strong and Brave!
Britannia rules the waves!
Victory reigns!
Far reaching boundaries,
Eternal industry,
King and Emperor!
God and Britannia!

Emperor Bevan VII, King of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and France, King of Jerusalem, Lord of New England and his Empire across the globe, Defender of the Faith, By the Grace of God, Holy Roman Emperor​

Various other verses were added and taken away over time often reflecting different social climates, King Robert would only see it used for three years before his death on the 29th of October 1762. In a surprisingly peaceful succession, Bevan the Prince of Normandy was crowned King and Emperor. Bevan VII’s grand coronation ended with a Christmas day Imperial coronation in Rome where he was acclaimed as the King of the United Kingdoms, Holy Roman Emperor and Defender of the Faith, many of the Princes of Europe were in attendance, some gave the traditional oaths of fealty and vassalage, other merely came to acknowledge British ascendancy. The King of Saxony and the Eastern Emperor of Byzantium were some of the more prominent statesmen that did not attend, of great surprise was the arrival of the protestant Archduke of Austria, whose entry marked the beginning of a reconciliation between Britain and Austria. His holiness Pope Clement XIII used the moment to press for a reconciliation of the Christian faith and a return to the Catholic church, however the Protestant delegates did not seem as interested.

Bevan VII was not a military King, although he had served in the army like all Princes of Normandy he had not enjoyed the tenure, or distinguished himself in combat. He was however, a brilliant administrator and a capable diplomat. Much of the early years of his reign were spent reworking his fathers tax system and administration. Often content to spend hours in his summer home at Hampton Court revising laws and statutes while his brother the Duke of York prosecuted another war in India in 1763.

Surprisingly, Bevan VII is famous not for his tax reforms or his attempts to facilitate the enlightenment in a politically repressive country, but for the 3rd Anglo - Byzantine war. Of course, it wasn’t the King’s idea, but rather a result of the severe nepotism in the Empire and awful relations with the Byzantine Empire. Many of the Imperial family were eager for war, and the thought of breaking up the East and properly defeating Byzantium spurred the aristocracy on. However, Bevan VII was not convinced, the last war had sent many soldiers along way from home, often with muddled lines of supply and haphazard communications over such a massive front had been an enormous problem. Despite the wishes of the high command and the aristocracy, Bevan VII refused to go to war, especially when their most capable commander, the Duke of York, was busy in India.

However, the Jingoists wouldn’t be ignored, and though they were powerless to persuade the King within the Empire, they had allies outside. The Iberian Empire, eager for conquest and especially eager to expand into the Mediterranean where, baring the island of Sardinia, the British dominated. The prospect of taking Rhodes and perhaps the Greek peninsular was highly tempting. When the British ambassador sent news to the King that the Iberians were planning an invasion of Byzantium, Bevan VII made haste to try and persuade King Francisco I to abandon his plans of invasion, or in the very least consent to an allied war of liberation. Much of the Iberian aristocracy was against a war with little or no material gains, however, King Francisco was easily swayed by British threats and promises. Britain moved towards war against Byzantium, by January 1764, the invasion of Austrian Ruthenia by the Byzantines silenced the pacifists. The Byzantines were once again invading Europe.

On the 9th of January 1764, Emperor Bevan VII sent the formal declaration of war to Emperor Leo IX.

 

[canonized]

An excellent and rousing chapter as always , Mr. Woodhouse ! Another War with the Byzantines with an otherwise peaceful King and transition into enlightened despotism . Interesting -- I wonder how this mix will work out !

 

[Mettermrck]

Love the seamless transition from one uber-king to another. Doesn't take much of a casus belli to turn Britain against the Byzantines, it appears.

 

[Lord Strange]

Hmmm, well averted over the New England crisis, almost could have had a USNE (United states of new england) forming.

 

[gigau]

Really nice update. I love your narrative skills

 

[Woody Man]

Canonized - Thank you! I think only time will tell!

Mettermrck - Haha no it doesn't! The joys of Deus Vult!

Lord Strange - Hmm I wonder though whether it has been averted, or just quietened down..

gigau - Thank you!

 

[Bad Santa]

Good update

 

[unmerged(61606)]

very nice update, but the despotic tendencies Britain is sliding to cannot end well.... look how well "I am the state" turned out for the French..... will there be some kind of revolution in Britain or the colonies in the near future?

 

[unmerged(70701)]

will there be some kind of revolution in Britain or the colonies in the near future?

That would indeed be quite the dramatic end of the EU3 phase of this story...

 

[Woody Man]

Bad Santa - Thank you!

rcduggan - It is entirely possible, like you said, "I am the State" didn't really work out well at all for the French...

Sr. Toledo - Haha it would indeed!