"Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor" - A Michael the Brave Romania Wank

[Zagan]

The narrative portion of Part One is already finished (with Chapter 64).

The following posts will contain various data in summarized form about Romania & the Empire of the Orient, then the rest of Europe and its Colonies, and finally the Islamic World and the rest of the World, as well as about the main protagonists of this story.

Line of Succession to the Romanian Throne
​

- Before 1599, in the Romanian Principalities: (more or less) Arbitrary Succession -- the new Voivode was chosen from the local ruling family (usually the most capable member of the voivodal family, whatever that was supposed to mean).

- 1599 - 1601, in the Romanian Principalities: Mihai (Great Voivode and Lord), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince).

- 1601: Unification of the Romanian Lands of Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia.

- 1601, in the United Romanian Lands: Mihai (Great Voivode and Lord), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince).

- 1601 Law of Succession to the Throne (in force, with amendments, until TTL present day).

I find it difficult to clearly formulate the law, so I will only provide an example:
Ruler (0)
--- Female (5)
------ Male (6)
--------- Female (8)
------------ Male (9)
--------- Male (7)
------ Female (10)
--------- Male (11)
--- Male (1)
--- Female (12)
------ Female (17)
--------- Female (19)
--------- Male (18)
--------- Female (20)
------ Male (13)
------ Male (14)
------ Male (15)
--------- Male (16)
------ Female (21)
--------- Male (22)
--------- Male (23)
--- Male (2)
------ Male (3)
------ Female (4)
Plus, anyone marrying into a foreign ruling dynasty loses the right to the Romanian Throne for themselves and all their descendants.

- 1601 - 1604, in the Principality of Romania: Mihai (Great Voivode and Lord), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince), (2) Florica (Princess).

- 1604: Princess Florica marries King Sigismund III Vasa of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (future Sarmatia), becomes Queen Flora and forfeits the rights to the Romanian Throne for herself and all her descendants.

- 1604 - 1615, in the Principality of Romania: Mihai (Great Voivode and Lord), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince).

- 1615: Princess Iulia (second in line) is born to Crown Prince Nicolae and his wife, Princess Maria.

- 1615 - 1625, in the Principality of Romania: Mihai (Great Voivode and Lord), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince), (2) Iulia (Princess).

- 1625: Death of Lady Stanca, Mihai's first wife.

- 1625: Proclamation of the Imperium.

- 1625 - 1627, in the Imperium of Romania: Mihai (Emperor of Romania / of the Romanians), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince), (2) Iulia (Princess).

- 1626: Emperor Mihai weds his second wife, Princess Christine of France (sister of King Louis XIII of France), who becomes Empress Cristina of Romania.

- 1627: Princess Maria (third in line) is born to Emperor Mihai and Empress Cristina.

- 1627 - 1628, in the Imperium of Romania: Mihai (Emperor), (1) Nicolae (Crown Prince), (2) Iulia (Princess), (3) Maria (Princess).

- 1628: Death of Crown Prince Nicolae, Mihai's only son.

- 1628 - 1642, in the Imperium of Romania: Mihai (Emperor), (1) Iulia (Crown Princess), (2) Maria (Princess).

- 1641: Iulia becomes Empress of Greece / Basileos Autokrator (Emperor) of the Greeks (first crown of Iulia).

- 1641: Death of Emperor Mihai (anounced to the public two months later, in 1642).

- 1642: Coronation of Imperatrix Iulia of Romania / of the Romanians (second crown of Iulia).

- 1642 - 1648, in the Romania and Greece: Iulia (Empress), (1) Maria (Crown Princess).

- 1648: Iulia becomes Empress in Constantinople / Empress of Rome / of the (Eastern) Roman Empire, later renamed as the Empire of the Orient with Iulia as Empress of the Orient (third crown of Iulia).

- 1648: Princess Alexandra (second in line) is born to Crown Princess Maria and Prince Frederick from the House of Wettin (the ruling German Imperial Dynasty).

- 1648 - 1650, in Romania, Greece and the Orient: Iulia (Empress), (1) Maria (Crown Princess), (2) Alexandra (Princess).

- 1650: Prince Mihai (second in line) is born to Crown Princess Maria and Prince Frederick.

- 1650 - 1651, in Romania, Greece and the Orient: Iulia (Empress), (1) Maria (Crown Princess), (2) Mihai (Prince), (3) Alexandra (Princess).

- 1651: Death of Empress Iulia.

- 1652: Prince Cezar (second in line) is born to Empress Maria and Prince Frederick.

- 1652: Coronation of Empress Maria of Romania, Greece and the Orient.

- From 1652, in the Oriental Realms (Romania, Greece and the Orient): Maria (Empress), (1) Mihai (Crown Prince), (2) Cezar (Prince), (3) Alexandra (Princess), (4, ...) the other children (and later grandchildren and grand-grandchildren, etc) of Maria and Frederick.


Notes:
1. Prince Frederick did not become Emperor but remained merely a Prince Consort, in order to highlight the fact that Maria was Empress Reignant.
2. Empress Maria continued to have children up to a total of three boys and four girls (more information in Part Two), thus forever solving the problem of the succession to the thrones.
3. Maria lived until [wait for Part Two, please].
4. The Dynasty founded by our first Emperor, Mihai, continues to reign in Romania to this day (TTL present, 2016).

 

[Zagan]

Family Tree of Emperor Mihai
(version 2)

​

Note: The Family Tree will be upgraded as the story progresses. New versions will be usually available twice a century.

Legend:
Double Border: Present in the Succession Line during all or part of their lives
Red Border: Emperor / Empress Reignant of Romania (and other realms)
XX / XXX: Year unknown (yet)
?: No information (yet)
Multiple connections: Several (less important) Issue grouped together in one box for simplicity


Everything clear? If not, please ask.

 

[Zagan]

This post and the following ones are short summaries for the lives and deeds of various characters (OTL and invented) significant to TTL.
These are trying to emulate the wikipedia style, but sadly without actual infoboxes, as I am not good at making those -- hint: help needed and highly appreciated.

Emperor Mihai I of Romania​

New! TTL Wiki setup by @fluttersky.

TTL Wiki Article: Mihai I of Romania

OTL Wikipedia Article: Michael the Brave
Infobox Picture (the one used in the first post): Link

Emperor of Romania (of the Romanians)
Title: Io Mihailŭ (Mihai), Împĕratul României (Românilor)
Reign: 12 August 1625 - 4 December 1641
Coronation: 12 August 1625, Alba Iulia
Predecessor: Himself (as Great Voivode and Lord)
Successor: Iulia I

Great Voivode and Lord of Romania (of the Romanian Lands)
Title: Io Mihailŭ, Mare Voevod și Domn al României (al Țĕrrilor Române)
Reign: 12 August 1601 - 12 August 1625
Coronation: 12 August 1601, Alba Iulia
Predecessor: Sigismund Báthory in Transylvania, Simion Movilă in Wallachia, Ieremia Movilă in Moldavia
Successor: Himself (as Emperor)

Prince of Transylvania (Voivode)
Title: Io Mihailŭ, Mare Voevod și Domn al Ardealului
Reign: 1 November 1599 - 18 September 1600
Predecessor: Andrew Báthory
Successor: Sigismund Báthory

Voivode of Wallachia
Title: Io Mihailŭ, Mare Voevod și Domn al Țĕrri Românescĭ
Reign: 11 October 1593 - 30 October 1600
Predecessor: Alexandru cel Rău (the bad)
Successor: Simion Movilă

Voivode of Moldavia
Title: Io Mihailŭ, Mare Voevod și Domn a toată Țarra Moldovei
Reign: 6 May 1600 - 29 September 1600
Predecessor: Ieremia Movilă
Successor: Ieremia Movilă

Voivode of Slovakia
Reign: 10 September 1601 - 30 April 1602
Predecessor: None (Position established)
Successor: Prince Milan I

Born: 1558, Târgul de Flocĭ, Ialomița, Wallachia (now Muntenia, Romania)
Names: Mihailŭ Pătrașcu, Mihai Viteazul [miˈhaj viˈte̯azu(l)] / Mihai Bravu [miˈhaj ˈbravu] (Michael the Brave)
Died: 4 December 1641 (83 years old), Jerusalem, Holy Land, Romania (now Israel)
Cause of death: Stroke
Burial: 20 January 1642, Patriarchal Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Romania

Venerated in: Romanian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church
Canonized: 27 February 1642, Patriarchal Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Romania
Feast: 5 January, Saint Emperor Mihai (Sfântul Împĕrat Mihailŭ)

Spouse: Lady Stanca
Married: 1584, Proeni, Vâlcea, Wallachia (now Oltenia, Romania)
Widowed: 13 March 1625
Issue: Prince Nicolae (1584), Queen Flora of Sarmatia (1586)

Spouse: Empress Cristina (Princess Christine of France*)
Married: 1 November 1626, Prague, Bohemia, Germany
Issue: Empress Maria (1627)

House: Drăculeștĭ of Wallachia (Draco), Imperial House of Romania (after 1625)
Father: Pătrașcu cel Bun (the good) of Wallachia (claim disputed)
Mother: Teodora Cantacuzino
Religion: Romanian Orthodox
.

 

[Behemoth]

Something that I want to add that I am not sure was covered:

OTL Sigismund III Wasa was king of Sweden before being deposed and the Vasa dynasty was in power until Queen Christina's abdication in 1654. Out of curiosity, what happened to the Vasa's ITTL?

 

[Zagan]

Something that I want to add that I am not sure was covered:

OTL Sigismund III Wasa was king of Sweden before being deposed and the Vasa dynasty was in power until Queen Christina's abdication in 1654. Out of curiosity, what happened to the Vasa's ITTL?

Here:

3. Conclusion of the Swedish War
The Swedes evacuate Polish Estonia and Swedish Estonia without a fight.
The Commonwealth invades Swedish Finland where Sigismund is welcomed by the Finns who remained loyal to him and not to the usurper Charles.
The feable and inexperienced Commonwealth Navy is destroyed later by the much stronger Swedish Navy. Any hope of invading Sweden proper is dashed.

4. Peace with Sweden
- Sigismund officially relinquishes the Crown of Sweden and recognizes Charles IX as King of Sweden.
- Sweden cedes Estonia and Finland. Estonia is directly annexed to the Commonwealth and united with Polish Estonia. Finland is organized as an autonomous province.

And here:

Only the Swedes kept vigurously attacking in the Aegean Sea and even attempted to land in Asia Minor. All this would come to an end with the tragic death of their warrior King, Gustavus Adolphus, killed by a stray bullet on a beach near the city of Smirna.

And here:

King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway had unified his realms into a single Kingdom called Scandinavia, composed of all its European territories (Denmark proper, Norway proper, Schleswig, Scania, Bornholm, Gotland, Osel, Iceland and Feroe).

He acquired Finland in 1625 (and ceded Osel) and explored and claimed the Coasts of the White Sea (Whiteland) between 1620 and 1633.

After the death in battle of King Gustavus Adolphus, his sister became Queen Catherine of Sweden.

The Unionist Movement in Sweden gained more traction because of four different events:
- The death of their King and the accession to the throne of the rather unpopular Queen Catherine;
- The financial collapse brought about by a string of lost or useless wars (the War with Poland-Lithuania, the First German War and the Anti-Ottoman War);
- The Scandinavian purchase of Finland;
- The desire to be recognized as a Great Power (only possible together with Denmark and Norway).

In January 1626, the Riksdag decided to pursue the Union with Scandinavia. Queen Catherine was forced to decide between abdication and divorce followed by marriage with King Christian. She chose the latter.

In June, King Christian of Scandinavia married Queen Catherine of Sweden. As she was 18 years older than him, the marriage was nothing more than a political trick and both monarchs continued to reside in their respective Capitals.

Several days after the Royal Marriage, the Kingdoms of Scandinavia and Sweden were officially united into the Commonwealth of Scandinavia or the Union of Scandinavia. King Christian became King of United Scandinavia and Queen Catherine became Queen Regnant of United Scandinavia.

Until the death of Queen Catherine, the Scandinavian Union would be a de facto Federal State, smoothly transitioning into a Unitary State after her death.

In short: Queen Christina was never born. Gustavus Adolphus died childless. Sweden was included in Scandinavia.

 

[Behemoth]

Understood. I just did not see a mention about the fate of Gustav II Adolf. Thank you.

 

[fluttersky]

I'll sort out the infobox thing

 

[fluttersky]

I'll sort out the infobox thing

Okay, here we go:

http://mihai.referata.com/wiki/Mihai_I_of_Romania​

I'm not overly keen on the formatting of this wikibox, but at least all information is contained there as requested.

I set up a whole wiki for it, which might have been overkill in hindsight, but oh well. At least we now have a place to start building up information about TTL!

 

[Zagan]

Okay, here we go:

http://mihai.referata.com/wiki/Mihai_I_of_Romania​

I'm not overly keen on the formatting of this wikibox, but at least all information is contained there as requested.

I set up a whole wiki for it, which might have been overkill in hindsight, but oh well. At least we now have a place to start building up information about TTL!

Wow, just wow!
For the first time in I don't know, I can't find my words.
It's... Wonderful!
A very, very warm thank you!

If you ever need any maps...

 

[Zagan]

Wiki

Totally unplanned and unexpected, we now have a wiki, thanks to @fluttersky.

Wiki (Main Page): "Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor", powered by Referata.
Wiki Page about Mihai (nice Infobox by @fluttersky): Mihai I of Romania

More content will be added in due time.
Everyone can help. Just no vandalism, please.
Thank you.

 

[Sian]

- 1601 Law of Succession to the Throne (in force, with amendments, until TTL present day).

I find it difficult to clearly formulate the law, so I will only provide an example:
Ruler (0)
--- Female (5)
------ Male (6)
--------- Female (8)
------------ Male (9)
--------- Male (7)
------ Female (10)
--------- Male (11)
--- Male (1)
--- Female (12)
------ Female (17)
--------- Female (19)
--------- Male (18)
--------- Female (20)
------ Male (13)
------ Male (14)
------ Male (15)
--------- Male (16)
------ Female (21)
--------- Male (22)
--------- Male (23)
--- Male (2)
------ Male (3)
------ Female (4)
Plus, anyone marrying into a foreign ruling dynasty loses the right to the Romanian Throne for themselves and all their descendants.

seems like a 'simple' Male-preference primogeniture, which searches deep before wide

 

[Zagan]

seems like a 'simple' Male-preference primogeniture, which searches deep before wide

Correct. And probably using the least number of words possible to characterize it! I'll use the phrase in the TL. Thanks.

 

[Zagan]

Empress Cristina of Romania​

TTL Wiki Article: Cristina of Romania

OTL Wikipedia Article: Christine of France*
*Note: TTL Christine Marie of France is not the same OTL Christine Marie of France. While her parents are the same OTL characters, she is conceived after the POD and born at a different date. She has the same name because the butterflies were not so strong to influence the naming decisions of her parents.

Empress of Romania
Reign: 1 November 1626 - 5 January 1642

Regent of Romania
Reason: Empress Iulia's captivity in Iberia
In office: 4 April 1644 - 24 April 1644

Regent of Romania (de facto)
Reason: Declining health of Emperor Mihai I
In office: Late 1630's - 5 January 1642

Grand Duchess of Tuscany
Reign: 10 April 1619 - 15 March 1625

Regent of Tuscany
Reason: Death of Cosimo II de' Medici
In office: 19 November 1621 - 15 March 1625

Born: 22 February 1604, Paris, France
Names: Christine Marie of France, Cristina of Romania
Died: ****, Michaelia Iulia, Romania
Cause of death: ****
Burial: ****, Patriarchal Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Romania

Spouse: Cosimo II de' Medici (her first cousin once removed)
Married: 10 April 1619, Florence, Tuscany (now Italy)
Widowed: 18 November 1621
Issue: None

Spouse: Mihai I of Romania
Married: 1 November 1626, Prague, Bohemia, Germany
Widowed: 4 December 1641
Issue: Empress Maria (1627)

House: House of Bourbon
Father: Henry IV of France
Mother: Marie de' Medici
Religion: Roman Catholicism, Romanian Orthodoxy (from 17 April 1629)
.

 

[Zagan]

Crown Prince Nicolae of Romania​

TTL Wiki Article: Nicolae of Romania

OTL Wikipedia Article (Romanian): Nicolae Pătrașcu

Crown Prince of Romania
In office: 12 August 1601 - 23 December 1628

Regent of Wallachia
Reason: Mihai I of Romania reigning in Transylvania
In office: 14 November 1599 - 2 September 1600

Born: 29 June 1584, Bucurescĭ, Ilfov, Wallachia (now Muntenia, Romania)
Name: Nicolae Pătrașcu
Died: 23 December 1628 (44 years old), Corfu, Venice, Italian Confederation (now Epirus, Romania)
Cause of death: Disease (possibly tuberculosis)
Burial: 28 January 1629, Patriarchal Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Romania

Spouse: Princess Maria
Married: 8 July 1612, Alba Iulia, Romania
Issue: Empress Iulia I of Romania, Greece and the Orient (1615)

House: Drăculeștĭ of Wallachia (Draco), Imperial House of Romania (after 1625)
Father: Emperor Mihai I of Romania
Mother: Lady Stanca of Romania
Religion: Romanian Orthodoxy
.

 

[Zagan]

Queen Flora of Sarmatia​

TTL Wiki Article: Flora of Sarmatia

OTL Wikipedia Article (Romanian): Domnița Florica

Queen of Sarmatia (Polish-Lithuaninan Commonwealth before 1 June 1611)
Reign: 30 November 1603 - 2 December 1637

Born: 1 July 1586, Ploeștĭ, Prahova, Wallachia (now Muntenia, Romania)
Name: Florica Pătrașcu
Died: ****, Krakow, Sarmatia
Cause of death: ****
Burial: ****, Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, Sarmatia

Spouse: King Sigismund III Vasa of Sarmatia
Married: 30 November 1603, Warsaw, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (now Sarmatia)
Widowed: 2 December 1637
Issue: Emperor Karol I of Sarmatia, eight others...

House: Drăculeștĭ of Wallachia (Draco), Imperial House of Romania (after 1625)
Father: Emperor Mihai I of Romania
Mother: Lady Stanca of Romania
Religion: Romanian Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism (from 29 November 1603)
.

 

[Zagan]

Empress Iulia I of Romania, Greece and the Orient​

TTL Wiki Article: Iulia I of Romania

OTL: No

Empress (Regnant) of Romania
Title: Iulia, Împĕrăteasa României (Românilor)
Reign: 5 January 1642 - 26 November 1651
Coronation: 7 January 1642, Alba Iulia
Predecessor: Mihai I of Romania
Successor: Maria I of Romania, Greece and the Orient

Empress (Regnant) of Greece
Title: Ιούλια, Βασιλεύς Αὐτοκράτωρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων (Iulia, Basileus Autokrator of the Hellenes)
Reign: 1 August 1641 - 26 November 1651
Coronation: 15 August 1641, Salonika, Greece
Predecessor: King Constantin XII of the Hellenes
Successor: Maria I of Romania, Greece and the Orient

Empress (Regnant) of Rome (of the Eastern Roman Empire)
Title: Iulia, Imperatrix Romae
Reign: 10 June 1648 - 18 August 1648
Coronation: 10 June 1648, Constantinople
Predecessor: None (Position established)
Successor: None (Title abolished)

Empress (Regnant) of the Orient
Title: Iulia, Orientis Imperatrix
Reign: 18 August 1648 - 26 November 1651
Coronation: None
Predecessor: None (Position established)
Successor: Maria I of Romania, Greece and the Orient

Born: 17 November 1615, Alba Iulia, Romania
Name: Iulia of Romania
Died: 26 November 1651 (36 years old), Medina, Arabia
Cause of death: Fallen in battle (while having incurrable appendicitis)
Burial: 5 January 1652, Patriarchal Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Romania

House: Drăculeștĭ of Wallachia (Draco), Imperial House of Romania (after 1625)
Father: Crown Prince Nicolae of Romania
Mother: Princess Maria of Romania
Religion: Romanian Orthodoxy
.

 

[Zagan]

Empress Maria I of Romania, Greece and the Orient​

TTL Wiki Article: Maria I of Romania

OTL: No

Empress (Regnant) of Romania
Title: Maria, Împĕrăteasa României (Românilor)
Reign: 26 November 1651 - ****
Coronation: 25 December 1651, Michaelia Iulia
Predecessor: Iulia I of Romania, Greece and the Orient
Successor: ****

Empress (Regnant) of Greece
Title: Μαρια, Βασιλεύς Αὐτοκράτωρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων (Maria, Basileus Autokrator of the Hellenes)
Reign: 26 November 1651 - ****
Coronation: 29 May 1653, Constantinople
Predecessor: Iulia I of Romania, Greece and the Orient
Successor: ****

Empress (Regnant) of the Orient
Title: Maria, Orientis Imperatrix
Reign: 26 November 1651 - ****
Coronation: 29 May 1653, Constantinople
Predecessor: Iulia I of Romania, Greece and the Orient
Successor: ****

Born: 25 September 1627, Prague, Germany
Name: Maria of Romania
Died: ****, ****
Cause of death: ****
Burial: ****, Patriarchal Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Romania

Spouse: Prince Frederick of Germany
Married: 29 September 1647, Michaelia Iulia, Romania
Widowed: ****
Issue: Princess Alexandra (1648), Crown Prince Mihai (1650), Prince Cezar (1652), Prince Traian (1655), Princess Cristina (1660)

House: Imperial House of Romania
Father: Emperor Mihai of Romania
Mother: Empress Cristina of Romania
Religion: Romanian Orthodoxy
.

 

[Zagan]

Should I stop doing these summaries (wiki)? Are they completely uninteresting?
I wanted to do some about the countries now...

 

[telynk]

I think these summaries would be great on the wiki, but, to be honest, they are a little disappointing when I think there's a story update.

 

[Zagan]

I think these summaries would be great on the wiki, but, to be honest, they are a little disappointing when I think there's a story update.

Ok. Point taken. And sorry to have disappointed you. But...

There will be no more chapters! The latest chapter was the last one of Part One. Except for the short Epilogue (coming soon).
Part Two will start a little later and possibly in another thread, I don't know.

Anyway, no more character wikis. Only a few more about the important countries (and including a little new material).
And then the Epilogue (of Part One). And then some more discussion (a couple of posts at most). And then Part Two. And the Spin-Off(s). And whatever else happens to cross my mind.

In conclusion, a few ETAs (Estimated Time of Arrival):
- The last batch of summaries (countries): this weekend;
- The Epilogue (definite end of Part One): the start of the next week (a few days from now);
- The beginning of Part Two: the second half of October (around two weeks from now);
- The end of Part Two: during the first half of 2017 (several months from now);
- The beginning of the first ASB Spin-Off: probably before the end of 2016 (a couple of months from now);
- Other Spin-Offs: no ETA (more than a year from now, if ever).