alternatehistory.com

The following is my first attempt at an ‘Alternate History’. I have already revised and revised this, but I may still revise it more. I also may add a continuation, depending on how much free time I have. I hope it gives a fair explanation to the map that I have included. I welcome any criticism or ideas.
Tymœddæ
EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS
My timeline begins with the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England and the succession of James VI of Scotland (who would become James I of England and Ireland). This timeline sees James totally rethink his ideals and devise a plan to create an Empire unlike any the world had ever seen. The initial stages of this plan would be kept mostly secret to keep any outside opposing parties from interrupting. James’ aim would be to create and restore realms with Celtic and Germanic backgrounds and join them together with other existing Kingdoms to create an Empire of Kingdoms and Duchies that would internally rule independent of each other, but together they would explore and conquer other lands and colonize them together. Each Kingdom or Duchy would become a form of Constitutional Monarchy, where the Monarch would still have ultimate power, but citizens could vote for local representatives and at the top, a Prime Minister. Greater rights, freedoms, wealth and prosperity would be shared by all from being a part of a growing, booming empire. This system would also benefit each realm in that their cultural identities would be protected. Once complete, the Kings and Dukes would vote amongst themselves for an Emperor who would serve a term of 5 years. This position would have no internal power over individual Kingdoms or Duchies, but would have power over external matters and over all Imperial territories, whatever their type of government may be.

24 March 1603 – JAMES VI, KING of SCOTLAND becomes JAMES I, KING of ENGLAND and IRELAND, ruling all 3 Kingdoms in what was known as the ‘Union of the Crowns’ (actual history)
26 July 1603 – Immediately after JAMES I (JAMES VI) coronation (also actual history), he began planning in secret of a grand scheme to create an Empire unlike any the world had ever seen.
14 September 1603 – JAMES I (JAMES VI) begins meeting in secret with the Secretary of State Chief Minister Sir Robert Cecil, Sir George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon and the Earls’ grandson and heir, Henry Hastings. (Sir George Hastings is the Great-Great-Great-Nephew of both King Edward IV of England and King Richard III of England, and James saw him as the Plantagenet heir to the English Throne) Together they prepare for the initial stages of the grand scheme which involved seeing England and Scotland as revised Kingdoms, altering the border between them (Scotland would ‘gain back’ all lands north of Hadrian’s Wall), and see the two Kingdoms unite into the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
29 October 1603 – JAMES I (JAMES VI) begins meeting in secret with Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet regarding Welsh matters in his grand scheme. (Sir John Wynn was a Welsh baronet descended from Owain ap Gruffydd {Owain Gwynedd}, King of Gwynedd and the first Prince of Wales) James saw Wynn as the leading candidate for the Welsh Throne. These matters would see Wales separated from England and have significant lands restored, forming a new unified Kingdom.
5 December 1603 – JAMES I (JAMES VI) begins meeting in secret with Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone regarding Irish matters in his grand scheme. (Hugh O’Neill came from a line of the O’Neill Dynasty in Ireland and being a leader in the Nine Years’ War, by 1598 he was considered by most of Ireland to be ‘Prince of Ireland’ or ‘High King of Ireland’) This would see all of the island of Ireland unified and form into a Kingdom.
4 January 1604 – A revolution begins to take place in Great Britain and Ireland, re-writing and creating necessary Acts and Laws to give JAMES I (JAMES VI) and his followers the power to proceed with his grand scheme and follow through with the structuring of the Realms within the Empire. By this time, nobles and supporters with positions of power would be promoted. One major Imperial Law pertaining to the ruler of each realm would see every future Monarch being only allowed to marry nobility or elite citizens from their own realm. Marriage to anyone who is from outside their realm would see the forfeit of their crown.
23 January 1604 – Religion would see a revolution of its own, and would be separated for the most part from all politics. The Kingdoms would be classified as Christian and would include any such divisions (Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Anglican, Calvinism) to exist within the realms. Each future monarch would have the option to choose which Christian church to follow and have their coronation with. Members of parliament would also have the same choice of Christian church as with citizens. (note: Citizens would have a complete freedom of religion by 1683)
3 March 1604 – The citizens of England and Scotland begin their voting for the candidacy of Prime Minister for each of their soon to be Kingdoms. This action would take place for each future realm to become part of the Empire, approximately one month before they are instated.
10 April 1604 – JAMES I (JAMES VI) has reversed the Union of the Crowns and gives up his English throne to Sir George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon, who becomes GEORGE I, KING of ENGLAND. This left JAMES to continue to rule as SEUMAS VI, KING of SCOTLAND. (From this point, Wales and Ireland would be jointly overseen as self-ruling territories of the Empire, with Sir John Wynn and Hugh O’Neill serving as heads of state until their prospective coronations) Having both previously been Kingdoms, this date would be considered as the mark of a new era for both ENGLAND and SCOTLAND, not the birth of new Kingdoms. This reflects in the numbering of their Monarchs. English is made the ‘official’ language of ENGLAND and London is ‘officially’ made the nations’ capital. Scottish Gaelic is made the ‘official’ language of SCOTLAND (although a number of southern Scottish people speak the English-based Scots language, which will eventually become suppressed) and Edinburgh (Dùn Èideann) is ‘officially’ made capital.
11 April 1604 – This date would officially mark the birth of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS (a.k.a. the UK Empire). The KINGDOM of ENGLAND and the KINGDOM of SCOTLAND join to form this Empire under the description previously mentioned. A declaration is drafted and signed by both Kingdoms (future realms would also sign this when becoming part of the Empire). It would come to be known as the Declaration of Imperial Union. During the growth of the addition of all 18 Kingdoms and Duchies to the Empire, each Monarch would jointly rule as far as Imperial duties are concerned. A temporary castle built in London would serve as capital until the future Imperial District is completed. Each Monarch will have a seat at a round table (like King Arthurs Knights), all having equal say as to the direction of the Empire.
22 July 1604 – WALES is officially separated from ENGLAND and SCOTLAND and becomes the KINGDOM of WALES with Sir John Wynn becoming IEUAN I, KING of WALES. Welsh is made the official language and Cardiff (Caerdydd) is made capital.
23 July 1604 – The KINGDOM of WALES is the third realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
3 October 1604 – IRELAND is officially separated from ENGLAND and SCOTLAND and becomes the KINGDOM of IRELAND with Hugh O’Neill becoming AODH I, KING of IRELAND. Irish Gaelic is made the official language and Dublin (Dubhlinn) is made capital.
4 October 1604 - The KINGDOM of IRELAND is the fourth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
8 October 1604 – Militia from each of the 4 Kingdoms join together and are known as the Imperial Army and Navy. A massive build-up of this Imperial Military begins. Expeditions to Western Africa and North America to bring back slaves and riches (mostly gold and silver) to aid in this strengthening also begin.
31 December 1604 – GEORGE I, KING of ENGLAND dies. He is succeeded by his grandson, Henry Hastings, who becomes HENRY IX, KING of ENGLAND.
15 March 1605 – CORNWALL is separated from ENGLAND and becomes the DUCHY of CORNWALL with the current High Sheriff, a notorious figure in Cornwall, Sir Francis Godolphin becoming FFRANSIS I, DUKE of CORNWALL. The creation of this Duchy was to give independence to the Cornish people living in south-west England and marks the beginning of creating autonomy for each ethnic group of people within the Empire. Cornish is made the official language and Bodmin (Bosvenegh) is made capital.
16 March 1605 - The DUCHY of CORNWALL is the fifth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
29 June 1605 – The ISLE of MAN is separated from ENGLAND and becomes the DUCHY of MANN. The notorious Deemster (Judge) named Ewan Christian becomes EWAN I, DUKE of MANN. Manx Gaelic is made the official language and Castletown (Balley Chashtal) is made capital.
30 June 1605 - The DUCHY of MANN is the sixth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
11 October 1605 – The ORKNEY ISLANDS are separated from SCOTLAND and becomes the DUCHY of ORKNEY. Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney loses all titles and is banished to France and later to Spain due to his crimes against the Earldom. The Sinclair family, descended from the original Norse Earls, become rulers of Orkney as well as Shetland. George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness would become JØRGEN I, DUKE of ORKNEY. The Duchy becomes bi-lingual with Orkney Norn and Scottish Gaelic being made the official languages (taking over English-based Scots, spoken by many, especially the elite). Kirkwall (Baile na h-Eaglais, Kirkjuvagr) is made capital.
12 October 1605 - The DUCHY of ORKNEY is the seventh realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
19 October 1605 – The SHETLAND ISLANDS are separated from SCOTLAND and becomes the DUCHY of SHETLAND. James Sinclair, 7th Lord Sinclair becomes JAKOB I, DUKE of SHETLAND. The Duchy becomes bi-lingual with Shetland Norn and Scottish Gaelic being made the official languages (taking over English-based Scots, spoken by many, especially the elite). Lerwick (Leirvik) is made capital.
20 October 1605 - The DUCHY of SHETLAND is the eighth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
1 February 1606 – The Imperial Army and Navy joins Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange and his cousin and brother-in-law William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, to fight against and disperse the Spanish, once and for all from the Spanish Netherlands.
6 June 1606 – Spain retreats and gives up the territory they were holding which brings an end to the war and the Spanish Netherlands.
12 August 1606 – In London, leaders of an underground rebel organization from Brittany meet with the Imperial government along with Henri de Saint-Rémi. The rebels, along with Henri de Saint-Rémi, set off to Brittany.
26 November 1606 – The Imperial Army and Navy arrives in North-Western France.
16 December 1606 – The KINGDOM of NETHERLANDS is formed and Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, becomes MAURITS I, KING of NETHERLANDS. Dutch is made the official language and The Hague (Den Haag) is made capital.
17 December 1606 - The KINGDOM of NETHERLANDS is the ninth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
29 January 1607 – With internal help from Breton rebels, who were placed under the command of Henri de Saint-Rémi, the territory of Brittany in North-Western France is fully taken with only 3 small battles taking place with minimal casualties and a weak resistance from the French. The mere sight of the might of the oncoming Imperial Army and Navy was enough for France to give up this territory.
13 February 1607 – The Imperial Army and Navy continues through the rest of France, taking control of its various areas one by one. Some resistance is seen, but the UK Empire takes control again with relative ease.
20 March 1607 – A small newly-formed portion of the Imperial Army and Navy is sent with some negotiators to East Frisia.
31 May 1607 – A portion of the Imperial Army and Navy is separated from the rest in France (due to that campaigns relative ease) and is sent to Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark.
28 June 1607 – The Imperial Army and Navy has secured the northern half of France. The Northern French Military, now under Imperial control, is used on the front lines in southern France and northern Germany.
1 July 1607 – Negotiations with Christian IV of Denmark begin. The Imperial Army and Navy begin small campaigns in the far northern and north-western German regions.
4 July 1607 - JAKOB I, DUKE of SHETLAND dies and is succeeded by his brother Patrick Sinclair who becomes PATRIK I, DUKE of SHETLAND.
8 August 1607 – The Imperial District of Calais is formed from territory in the former North of France. Construction begins on a gigantic Royal Palace as well as five massive ports for the Navy and three big military bases for the Army.
27 September 1607 – The KINGDOM of BRITTANY is formed from all lands that were believed to be part of Brittany at one time, in the former North-West of France. Although most recently being under the control of France, Brittany was considered a Duchy and thus now is considered to be a new era for a pre-existing realm that sees it become a Kingdom. Henri de Saint-Rémi (Son of Henry II of France {who is considered Herri I of Brittany}, Grandson of Claude of France {Klaoda of Brittany}, Great-Grandson of Anne {Anna} of Brittany, Great-Great-Grandson of Francis II {Frañsez II} Duke of Brittany) becomes HERRI II, KING of BRITTANY. Breton is made the official language and Rennes (Roazhon) is made capital.
28 September 1607 - The KINGDOM of BRITTANY is the tenth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
1 October 1607 – Negotiations with Denmark come to an end. The negotiators along with the Imperial Army and Navy are dispatched to Sweden.
19 October 1607 – Negotiations with Charles IX of Sweden begin.
28 October 1607 – Russian leaders are invited to Sweden to join in on negotiations regarding territorial claims and an alliance with the UK Empire, to which Sweden will agree to join.
30 October 1607 – The DUCHY of FRISIA is formed from all of the Frisian territories in the NETHERLANDS, North-Western Germany, South-Western Denmark and East Frisia. East Frisia, being the only true self-ruling of the Frisian territories, would have their leader, Enno III, Count of East Frisia, become ENNO III, DUKE of FRISIA. Frisian is made the official language and Aurich (Aurechove) is made capital.
31 October 1607 – The DUCHY of FRISIA is the eleventh realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
6 December 1607 – A settlement of territorial claims between Sweden and Russia has come to terms, with a boundary agreed upon, and Sweden agrees to join the UK Empire. Most of the Imperial Army and Navy here are sent to northern Germany and southern France.
20 April 1608 – FFRANSIS I, DUKE of CORNWALL dies and is succeeded by his son, Sir William Godolphin, who becomes GWILYM I, DUKE of CORNWALL.
26 April 1608 – The KINGDOM of DENMARK enters a new era with the reorganization of the government and adjustments to their borders. CHRISTIAN IV, KING of DENMARK continues his reign. Danish remains the official language and Copenhagen (København) is the capital. The logistics of separating Norway would occur over the following few weeks
27 April 1608 - The KINGDOM of DENMARK is the twelfth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
20 May 1608 – NORWAY is separated from DENMARK and is reformed as the KINGDOM of NORWAY. Support for the Monarch goes to one of Norway’s wealthiest remaining Norwegian nobles, if not the wealthiest, Johannes Lauritsen Galtung til Torsnes who is made JOHANNES I, KING of NORWAY. Norwegian is made the official language and Oslo is made capital.
21 May 1608 - The KINGDOM of NORWAY is the thirteenth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
29 May 1608 – More of the Imperial Army and Navy are sent to the northern German territories of the Holy Roman Empire and campaigns begin to see them separated from that Empire and united together to form a German Realm.
13 June 1608 – The KINGDOM of SWEDEN enters a new era, has its borders adjusted (mainly the eastern borders with the Russian Empire and refined borders with Norway), and government reorganized. Charles IX would continue his reign as KARL IX, KING of SWEDEN. Swedish is the official language and Stockholm is the capital.
14 June 1608 - The KINGDOM of SWEDEN is the fourteenth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
20 June 1608 – The DUCHY of FAEROE is formed from the Faroe Islands, formerly ruled by Denmark. The son of Magnus Heinason (who was a celebrated naval hero, wrongfully accused and beheaded), Rasmus Magnussen, becomes RASMUS I, DUKE of FAEROE. Faeroese is made the official language and Tórshavn (Thorshavn) becomes the capital.
21 June 1608 - The DUCHY of FAEROE is the fifteenth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
12 July 1608 – The DUCHY of ICELAND is created from the formerly Norwegian controlled island. (which Norway itself was Danish controlled) The son of Magnús Jónsson (who was a farmer, landbroker and chief administrator of two counties in Iceland and one of Iceland’s wealthiest men), Ari Magnusson (himself a sheriff and a very powerful and rich man) becomes ARI I, DUKE of ICELAND. Icelandic is made the official language and Reykjavik (Reykjavíkurborg) becomes the capital.
13 July 1608 - The DUCHY of ICELAND is the sixteenth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
16 July 1608 – All of the territory of France is taken under control of the UK Empire and becomes an Imperial Territory known as Gallia. Most of the Imperial Army and Navy here are sent to join the present group in the northern German areas as well as the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom where they are joined by Russian troops.
2 September 1608 – Northern German territories are under control of the UK Empire with Saxony becoming an Imperial Territory. Some of the Imperial Army and Navy remain in the north-east German areas and the Polish-Lithuanian territories and some are sent to their home bases to prepare for an invasion in the Iberian Peninsula. Up to this point, the Imperial Army and Navy was considered the joint forces of each realm. The process of separating them begins, meaning that each realm will have their own Army and Navy but at the same time they will each contribute most of their troops to the new Imperial Army and Navy, which begins to start operating from the Naval Ports under construction at Calais.
6 December 1608 – The territory between the German and Russian lands, including the Polish-Lithuanian, is taken under control of the UK Empire and Russia with a boundary agreed upon. The Imperial Territory of Teutonia is created. Most of the Imperial Army and Navy here are sent to their home bases where they join preparation for the Iberian invasion. Some remain and eventually are joined by the addition of German Troops and travel to the south of the Saxony Territory.
16 February 1609 – The KINGDOM of SAXONY is formed from Northern German realms including Saxony, Brunswick-Launenburg and many other small realms. Christian II, Elector of Saxony becomes CHRISTIAN II, KING of SAXONY. Saxony German is made the official language and Bremen becomes the capital.
17 February 1609 – The KINGDOM of SAXONY is the seventeenth realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
2 May 1609 – The KINGDOM of TEUTONIA is formed from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, Duchy of Pomerania, Duchy of Mecklenburg, Saxe-Launenburg, Stettin, and parts of Silesia, the Polish Commonwealth and the Duchy of Prussia. John Sigismund, Elector and Margrave of Brandenburg, becomes JOHANN I, KING of TEUTONIA. Teutonic German is made the official language and Berlin is made the capital.
3 May 1609 - The KINGDOM of TEUTONIA is the eighteenth and final realm to become part of the EMPIRE OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.
13 July 1609 – The Imperial Army and Navy is dispatched to parts of Spain and Portugal (The Iberian Peninsula).
10 October 1609 – The UK Empire has secured all of the Iberian Peninsula which becomes an Imperial Territory known as Iberia.
16 November 1609 – The Military is sent to central Europe, territories mostly under the control of the Holy Roman Empire. Together with the military presence in southern SAXONY, they emerge from Gallia and the Mediterranean (around Genoa) and put a squeeze on this territory.
14 January 1610 – The REPUBLIC of GALLIA is created mostly from the territory of Gallia in the former France. Paris becomes the capital. Republics will be part of the UK Empire, ruled under the Empire with an elected Governor. Each Kingdom and Duchy will receive a specified percentage of land to be owned directly by members of their royal families as well as other nobles. Some commoners from each realm will also receive land, all of which will be mostly used for farming.
19 February 1610 – Central Europe is taken under control of the UK Empire and the military continues down through the Italian peninsula. This marks the beginning of the end of the Holy Roman Empire.
22 May 1610 – The Italian Peninsula is taken under control of the UK Empire and the military is subsequently sent to the Habsburg territories in the Austria and Hungary region as well as some surrounding areas where they are to meet with the Russians, again to conquer with then negotiate their borders.
18 June 1610 – The REPUBLIC of IBERIA is created from the whole of the Iberian Peninsula and becomes part of the UK Empire. Barcelona is made capital.
14 August 1610 – Habsburg Austria and Hungary is taken under control of both the UK Empire and the Russians who agree upon a boundary, sharing their newly conquered territories. This marks the completion of the end of the Holy Roman Empire.
10 September 1610 – The UK Empire, along with the Russians, begin preparations for War with the Ottoman Empire.
18 October 1610 – The joint forces begin their attack on the Northern Ottoman territories in the Dalmatia and Balkan regions.
29 October 1610 – En route to the Dalmatian, Balkan and Greek coasts, the Imperial Navy with a few Army Regiments, conquer all of the Mediterranean Sea and its islands, but not the African coast at this time.
19 December 1610 – The entire European portion of the Ottoman Empire is taken under control by the UK Empire and Russia. The Ottoman War breaks out in Anatolia.
19 February 1611 – Anatolia is taken under control of the UK Empire, crippling the Ottoman Empire. The military, along with the Russians, continue to the Middle East and Northern Africa.
21 March 1611 – The REPUBLIC of HELVETIA is created from territory to the east of GALLIA, and becomes part of the UK Empire. Zürich is made capital.
23 June 1611 – CHRISTIAN II, KING of SAXONY dies and is succeeded by his brother John George who becomes JOHANN GEORG I, KING of SAXONY
21 July 1611 – The REPUBLIC of APPENNINIA is created from the Italian Peninsula, and becomes part of the UK Empire. Rome is made capital.
2 September 1611 – Explorers with a few small regiments of the Imperial Army and Navy are sent to Greenland and North America followed by some small groups of citizens to begin colonizing.
15 October 1611 – The Calais Imperial Palace is completed and the Monarchs of the round table move themselves here along with the rest of the Imperial government. By this time, four of the five giant Navy Ports are completed and in use along the Calais shore. The Army is also completely moved into its three bases in Calais, with minor construction being finished.
30 November 1611 – The REPUBLIC of AUSTRIA is created and becomes part of the UK Empire. Vienna (Wien) is made capital.
4 December 1611 – Northern Africa, including Egypt, is under the control of the Empire. This area would serve as an Imperial-controlled military regime where the people would serve as slaves to the Empire and to the military. An official Imperial Territory would not exist here for almost a decade.
16 February 1612 – The REPUBLIC of DALMATIA is created and becomes part of the UK Empire. Dubrovnik is made capital.
22 March 1612 – The Middle East is partially under the control of the Empire. The remaining portions are controlled by the Russians. The Imperial-controlled areas would mimic the regime in Northern Africa. An official Imperial Territory would not exist here for almost a decade.
18 September 1612 – The REPUBLIC of BALKAN is created and becomes part of the UK Empire. Sofia (Sofiya) is made capital.
23 September 1612 – North America Territory is established with the territorial government being established in Manhattan.
29 September 1612 – The REPUBLIC of MEDITERRANIA is created and becomes part of the UK Empire. Syracuse is made capital.
3 November 1612 – The REPUBLIC of ANATOLIA is created and becomes part of the UK Empire. Ankara is made capital.
6 December 1612 – The long awaited vote amongst the Kings and Dukes for the title of Emperor takes place.

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