British Preparation
British Preparation
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]It is very clear that the US is preparing to go to war. While they didn't do it during the summer, as some on the British side had feared, everyone expected the war to start in the spring of '43 when the weather got better and e.g. there was grass and forage for draft animals to eat. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The 20k troops waiting in England are being prepared for shipment to Canada in the early spring. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]British diplomacy also moves into overdrive, looking for additional support/troops. Portugal, being a close ally and being able to use the excuse of defending Antonia, their Infanta, promises 5k troops and much of her fleet, and looks at raising a force of colonial troops for use in Louisiana or the Caribbean, as necessary. Brazil volunteers 2 regiments, and Uruguay another[1]. Argentina[2] provides a battalion or so of light horse (guachos, basically). Chile agrees to supply some of its navy, but doesn't offer any land troops. (All the Cono Sur troops are to be fed and armed by the British. This still sounds like a good deal for Britain.) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In Europe, Oldenburg and Würtemberg each provide a regiment, through Prince Peter's connexions[3], but a similar appeal to Russia fails completely. Similarly, Sweden is asked and refuses men, and prevents Norway from (officially) volunteering ships[4]. Hannover is asked if they would contribute troops, due to the old connexion, but King Ernst Augustus is not happy with the Britain or his niece at the moment, and declines for now.[5][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Moreover, one regiment from India is already on its way, and should shortly arrive in Louisiana, and the EIC has 5000 troops (including a regiment of allied Sikh cavalry) which left India in August 1842 heading across the Pacific. More recruitment is on-going there, but they hope to get some of their shipping back first.[6] These troops stop off in Hawai'i for reprovisioning, and the cavalry regiments stay for a couple of months to help their horses recover from the long ocean trip. Most of the infantry continues on to the UPCA. While those troops are resting, Chile agrees to provide vessels to transport both the troops left behind and a native regiment of Hawai'ians. (The Kingdom of Hawai'i having just adopted a liberal constitution, they are eligible to join the Neo-Delian league, and the British convince the Queen regent that providing a regiment or two in exchange for Britain pushing for their membership in the League is a good deal.)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Other British colonies are not very populous yet, and so not a great source of men, still one regiment is raised in Australasia (a battalion from West Australia, 2 from the east, and a battalion of Maori), and another from South Africa (again, mixed, Anglo, Boer, and black). These won't arrive in theatre until somewhat later.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Note that the US doesn't expect ANY of the allied troops to show up, aside possibly from a token handful of Portuguese.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Also, as mentioned above, recruiting efforts in insular Britain (including Ireland) are very active, and it is hoped that more troops may be available 'soon'. Irish political leaders declare that if Britain will move forward on making Ireland a Kingdom, they will guarantee 20k Irish troops at minimum within the year. Given the need for troops, Parliament agrees, with the proviso that those 20k troops be ready by spring – and that at least another 20k be raised by the year's end. It quickly becomes obvious that elections for an Irish Parliament, and some of the other necessities for a functional self-governing kingdom simply can't be ready on the timetable being asked. So, as ernest, the UK Parliament implements legislation to make Ireland its own kingdom, with a nominal date of 1 January 1843. Queen Charlotte will travel to Dublin and be crowned Queen of Ireland (as well as of Britain) on that date. Governing will still happen through Parliament in London until such time as an Irish Parliament can be elected. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Canada is in an uproar. They expected to be the first subsidiary Kingdom, and are very annoyed that Ireland jumped the gun. Furious negotiations criss-cross the Atlantic during the fall, and the result is that Canada will crown Sophia and Peter as Queen and King (Peter gets the title King, but it is Sophia who is crowned first. More like a William-and-Mary than a Victoria and Albert.) The coronation is scheduled for 1 February 1843, and Charlotte will be crowned Empress of the British Empire on the same date. Ireland gets to be the first new Kingdom – but Canada gets her own queen. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In the meantime Sophia and Peter have been named Viceroy of British North America.[7] Nova Scotia quickly complains – 'What about us?'. THEY were supposed to get Sophia as their Princess, and they haven't forgotten. Moreover, they worry strongly – the Viceroys have authority over them. What happens when Canada becomes Kingdom? Is Sophia as Viceroy going to have authority over Sophia as Queen? Is the Kingdom going to expand to include all of BNA, and doesn't Nova Scotia get a say in this, etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]To placate the Nova Scotians, Peter and Sophia make a quick trip to Halifax and are crowned Prince and Princess of Nova Scotia (October 1, 1842), and then to New Brunswick where they are crowned Duke and Duchess of New Brunswick (October 15, 1842). Returning to Canada, the royals bring with them a negotiating team from the Atlantic provinces to discuss just how they might fit in the new structure.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif](To jump ahead, the Maritimers end up accepting that they will end up under the rule of the 'King of Canada', whether it be technically part of 'The Kingdom of Canada' or a union of crowns or what, and however the political structure ends up. In exchange, 'Prince(ss) of Nova Scotia' is to be the title of the heir, and 'Duke/Duchess of New Brunswick' the second in line. (Think 'Prince of Wales' and 'Duke of York'.))[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1 Uruguay is the most recent member of the Neo-Delian league. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2 Argentina wishes to upgrade to full membership in the Neo-Delian league, but doesn't qualify due to strongman rule. Miffed, they don't provide as much support as the full members, but DO provide some, so as to keep their chances alive.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]3 As you may remember, Peter (Princess Sophia's husband) is of the house of Oldenburg and step-son of the ruler of Würtemberg, and has strong connexions to Russia. 2 of those 3 connexions come through. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]4 Norway would cheerfully contribute forces (probably naval), as it very much wants to be a member of the Neo-Delian league. However, military is definitely in the purview of Union government, and they're not interested. Joining the League is arguably within the purview of the Norwegian Storting, a military alliance is definitely not. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]5 Ernst Augustus ascended the throne of Hannover in 1837 and immediately tried to undo some of the liberal(ish) reforms instituted by his brother, King William. Since Charlotte (and Parliament) approved of her uncle William's moves, and disagrees with Ernst's efforts, relations have somewhat chilled. However, Ernst hasn't said 'no, never', he's said 'no, not now'.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]6 5000 men and a bunch of horses takes up a lot of shipping. IOTL, the EIC shipped first 3300 troops to China, then 5k more during the Opium wars, which happened iOTL in this time frame but which happen very differently iTTL. More on that later. So, once the first 5k troops arrive in e.g. the UPCA, the ships will turn around and pick up more troops from India. But trips across the whole width of the Pacific take time...[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]7 Remember Sophia and Peter's extended trip before and after William and Antonia's marriage? The plan all along was that Sophia and Peter would be suggested for Viceroy, with the future possibility of them being made Queen and King when all the appropriate arrangements and negotiations had happened. Instead, events force events forward and out of order. Fortunately, the royals are well received and popular, so no one is unhappy about this. [/FONT]