(E.I. Game) The Fall of the United Kingdoms: The Anarchy

[Muse_Of_History]

Outside Buckingham Guard (February 21st, 1856): The Guard was sparse tonight, and the rioters amassed outside the gate. The Gates were falling inward... The Guard fired... Revolver rounds returned from the crowd... Fire... Buckingham Palace was being overrun by a mob. The destruction... Prince Albert was dead... the building was burning. The Buckingham Guard dead... This type of chaos hadn't occurred since the French Revolution. The regent was gone. The Parliament dead or on the run. Nero, Nero! came the chants as some members of the mob watched the flames of the Palace.

Britain/Ireland, for a month or two: Riots nation wide brought death and damnation on all those of noble blood. Spite and hate reign... Small groups across the nation, in the cities and in the towns, begin to try and rebuild civilization, but they will not be heard. Not yet.

India: India remains remarkably passive. The Army men there are mildly surprised, don't share the news with the natives, and go about their lives, collecting money and behaving in general like they always have.

African and Australian Territories: Shocked, but in better state then the British, the Australian and African territories remain on sliding ground, trying to retain order, but they will most likely rejoin whatever grows up to to replace the United Kingdoms.

[Muse_Of_History]

March 18th, 1856, in London: Isambard Brunel sat in a chair in his office, he could see the frantic behavior of the majority, some merely wanted to protect their children, some were the ones they needed protecting from. But none of the Londonians could bring Order to the city. None but him.

That night, he stood outside his building with some of the Security for his building, he swept through the streets, having the Security capture those causing too much havoc and throwing them in prison. Order would be restored... But it would take time.

[Fatstalin]

In response to this sudden degradation of order within the United Kingdom and her colonies, French Naval Squadrons at Brest and Calais have been put on high alert, along with local Fusiliers Marins in the region. Various vessels, including a squadron of four frigates (lead by the 41-gun screw frigate La Fayette), have also been dispatched to Reunion and other posts in the Southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans where they will await further orders.

Obviously, if things continue to go south, France will have no choice but to intervene and prevent the torrent of mob rule from spreading across the world.

[Muse_Of_History]

June 28th, The British Committee of the People: Isambard Kingdom Brunel stands before an assembly of men, an assembly of all those who had managed to continue to try and maintain order in their local dominions. Their towns and their cities. From Ireland and England and Scotland they had come, they were strong, men of determination and pluck and courage. Brunel announced to them proudly, "Today is a new day, today, before any other day, the British, the Irish, and the Scottish have voiced their opinion, they have made their name known. Today, we are gathered here in solemn duty. This, my friends, is the day that we announce ourselves as a nation to our people, and to the world! Britain, while under iron fists and cruel masters, was weakened and crippled. But now, we as a people, are make an announcement to the world: We are free, and we shall THRIVE!" with that, Isambard steps down, and the group begins to speak of mundane things, food supplies and such.

[Risban]

Papal Offices, Vatican City, July 6th

"This is most disturbing, Your Holiness," spoke a man with a heavy Irish accent. "But it can perhaps prove to be beneficial to the Catholic majority in Ireland. With the endorsement of the Holy See--"

"And ask for more blood to be spilt just so you can claim independence?" cried an man adorning the robes of a cardinal and speaking with a French accent. "Holiness, we must tread carefully here. Britain can still prove to be useful, and we do not want to go about upsetting anyone for the sake of--"

"Useful? The British Empire has fallen," countered the Irish abbot. "Now is the best time to endorse the liberation of Ireland. England is powerless to stop it."

"It will result in a 'civil war' between Ireland and Britain, sire, I swear it," argued the Frenchman.


Pope Julius IV sat back in his chair, his shrewd mind looking ahead, thinking through the scenarios. The Catholics of Ireland--primarily in the southern portion of the island--would never accept any form of British control, whether it be this chaotic anarchy now in place or the former system. He could use it as a way to fix ties with the Protestants, but with the loss of their might it hardly seemed worth it. No doubt there were Irish beginning to form militias and prepare to declare independence from the chaotic kingdom.... But if the Holy Father came out in support of Irish revolution, it could prove ill diplomatically. Then again, it would perhaps draw the attention of several powers seeking to capitalise on the fall of their greatest rival--like France, Spain, or Portugal--and they may support it in one way or another.

"I will release a decree," finally said the Pope, speaking over the arguing voices of his advisors in the room. "Prepare some legates. We will imply freedom without demanding revolution. With the British army in disarray, the people of Ireland should be able to act without a great fight."




Decree by His Holiness Pope Julius IV, Bishop of Rome and Pontifex Maximus of the Roman Catholic Church, to the Peoples of the formerly United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

God's children in Ireland have long suffered under a tyrannous regime, where unyielding Protestant sects--insulting both themselves, their country, their faiths, and their God--sought to abuse, neglect, insult, degrade, and enslave the Catholics within their kingdom. Long of the Irish sought independence from the British Crown.

Now, with anarchy engulfing the formerly United Kingdom, is a chance for the people of Ireland to rise up. Stand against tyranny. Establish a new regime in which all of God's children can worship Our Lord Jesus Christ freely and faithfully. Let the Irish rule Ireland freely, justly, and faithfully.

Christ be with you.

In the Name of God,

His Holiness The Pope, Julius IV, Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Jesus Christ, Pontifex Maximus of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Servant of the Servants of God, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the Roman State

[Muse_Of_History]

(Thank you to Papal Bulls)
Ireland is divided; there are those who are loyal to Brunel's new nation, the United Republic, and some who side more to the papist side. (The UK of this TL was slightly nicer and needed less food so there was no Potato famine) Both sides are overtly disorganized, the fighting is messy and unnessecarily bloody. Isambard Kingdom Brunel announces to the United Republic (and of course the Papal States) that his new nation, the United Republic, shall in no way endorse or discourage religion of any kind, and that all shall be free to worship as they please,
(Private Message from Brunel to the dear Pope)
Dear Pope; you destroy my nation's youth? You would destroy the lives of thousands who have only just now escaped the terrors of anarchy that you might plunge them back into it? You speak not for my god, for the god of truth and order and the Universal Law, but for the prince of the world, he seeks to sow disorder, and I imagine you are presently doing quiet well for him, anarchy again in Ireland! What a great travesty! You will forgive my lack of tact, I am not a politician. Well okay, technically I am, but I haven't been very long.

[Muse_Of_History]

At last surpressing the Catholic uprising in Ireland, messangers are sent to the (more stable) colonies in Africa, Australia, and India. In India however... Something is amiss. The messengers do not return.

In INdia India is under the control of the leading military commander of Britain, and he refuses to recognize the united Republic... It seems there shall be the suppression of more rebels....

[Enigma]

OOC: Yeah... You definately don't know much about Irish/Catholic-British/Protestant relations, do you? If the Crown got knocked off, and some new republic was formed, the Irish would definately have a country-wide revolt. You would kind of have to send a few armies over to quell the revolt, not rely on local militias or British garrisons. And how was the Empire nicer in this TL, and the Famine didn't occur?

[Muse_Of_History]

OCC: Alright:
1. The Crown in this TL doesn't have as many colonies to feed, so no potato famine (it wasn't the end of the earth sorta famine, and its events aren't super probable anyway.)
2. The existence of the UR is NOT a result of revolution, deliberately executed to usurp the crown. The crown just fell apart, the nobles were killed, and lots of people (Irish people even...) took action to take care of their town or city, the UR is a result of that. Brunel recruited the individuals who took control of cities and towns and formed them up into one group. The UR is not a democratic republic. Its not a Republic at all. There are no court systems, no legal rules have been set down, hell its hardly a nation. As can be seen by the events of all of its colonies getting up and giving it the finger.
3. The crown was nicer, more concessions and such (Don't wanna get replaced by a Napoleon look alike, which was a popular idea in Ireland for some time. Too late now though), permission to be as catholicy and such.
4. And as it happens relations weren't as bad before the Potato famine as before hand anyway.

[Enigma]

(OOC: When did this game start?)

[DGNT]

(OOC:
OOC goes in the IC-related forum, guys. Minimize OOC chatter in these forums.
Thank you :))