OOC: I decided to do a Kingdom of America that starts later than Washington, I tried it as a ruler game a while back but it died, so I took my original post and expanded it on my own. Tell me what you think.
Monarchs of the United Kingdom of America
February 15th, 1815 - March 17th, 1843: Augustus Frederick I (House of Hannover) [1]
March 17th, 1843 - August 9th, 1881: Augustus I (House of Hannover) [2]
August 9, 1881 - February 5, 1902: Augustus Frederick II (House of Hannover) [3]
February 5, 1902 - August 8th, 1929: Clementine (House of Hannover) [4]
August 8th, 1929 - September 11th, 1950: Alexander (House of Romanov) [5]
September 11th, 1950 - Present: Augustus II (House of Romanov) [6]
Notes
[1]
Augustus Frederick I of the United Kingdom of America, painted in 1798 as a British Prince.
Augustus Frederick, born Prince Augustus Frederick of the United Kingdom of Great Britain was the sixth son of George III and never expected to be King of anything. He was made the Duke of Sussex and his first marriage was declared null and void due to being made without the approval of the crown. However when Great Britain went to war with the United States due to a series of miscommunications did fate change for Augustus Frederick, the young nation was defeated within four years, the bad leadership of America's 4th President Charles Cotesworth Pinckney saw the fledgling USA brought back into the British orbit.
However the region was clearly desirous of it's independence, but without a British presence it would remain a threat to Britain's overseas Empire in the New World. So George IV chose instead to negotiate with the remnants of the federal government to not just surrender but to declare their Constitution null and void and to establish a monarchy with a new legal framework, with his brother as King.
Thus the
Treaty of New York (1815) was signed and Augustus Frederick, the Duke of Sussex abandoned his British titles and became the first King of the United Kingdom of America.
The new King's reign saw his arrival in his new capital city of New York to stunned silence from the crowds, and yet it would be the start of America's rebuilding. The King's Palace (the first royal residence of the American Monarchy) was constructed on the outskirts of New York, the city of Washington DC dissolved and it's lands redeveloped into a farming community.
The system of Federal states that had existed in the 'Republican Era' would change, the United Kingdom was a unitary state made up of Provinces with Parliamentary democracy that, while officially based on the British model would carry over significant American Republic influences, most notably a written Constitution of the United Kingdom that was agreed upon during the negotiations for peace and came in force upon Augustus Frederick I's inauguration as America's first King on February 17, 1815.
While Republican agitation would plague Augustus Frederick's reign, never the less he persisted with the support of America's upper classes and their wealth, pleased with their new titles and the creation of the American Parliament with it's houses of the Commons and the Lords (chosen from said upper classes and the rising captains of industry), though the Lords would dominate during most of the 19th century.
The King would marry in two years time to Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, who while not finding the rough life in the new kingdom to her tastes, never the less produced three children, Prince Augustus, Duke of New York, Princess Augusta of America, and Princess Charlotte of America.
The United Kingdom of America would continue to expand and grow, though it avoided lands claimed by Great Britain and Canada, which was a royal dominion of the British Crown.
The issue of slavery began to fester in the later years of Augustus Frederick's reign, but the King managed to maintain a balance between Southern slave owners and the growing objections of Abolitionists and those in the north of the Kingdom that found slavery to be damaging to their growing industries.
Another problem was the Texas Revolution against the Mexican Republic, in which Tejanos and Republican colonists (and fugitives) from the UKA that saw the rise of the Republic of Texas, a Republican Slaver state right on the border of the United Kingdom of America, and a source of agitation politically due to Mexico suspecting the UKA of having supported the Revolution (which in truth the King did not, but many Republicans in the UKA had), and those in Texas who wanted to join with America to help cover it's debts, and those in Texas who wanted to stay independent due to America being a monarchy, along with the supporters of slavery in America who wanted to bring Texas into the Kingdom, and opponents of slavery who wanted to avoid making the slaver cause stronger, along with those who wanted America to become an Imperial power and those who opposed such a move.
Augustus Frederick died of an infection at age 70 on March 17th, 1843 at this juncture in American politics and passed the crown to his son Prince Augustus, Duke of New York.
[2]
King Augustus I, photograph taken on the day of his wedding to Princess Clémentine of Orléans in 1840 at age 20.
King Augustus I of the United Kingdom of America, born on May 6th, 1819 was the second child and only son of Augustus Frederick I of the United Kingdom of America and was made Duke of New York upon his christening in the Episcopalian Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Educated in the Royal Palace in New York City by private tutors and proved a model student with military history being his true passion, as he grew up the young Prince became the darling of the social scene of New York, revealing the young Prince's charm and dashing character.
While the young Prince became attached to a number of young women during his bachelorhood, he never took a long-term mistress and no known 'natural' children exist in records, unlike his father who had two children by an illegal marriage that was later annulled.
While Augustus was close to both of his sisters, they both married European royalty and would only make sporadic visits to their homeland, while Augustus I himself noted that his father considered several brides for his son before selecting Princess Clémentine of Orléans, the daughter of King Louis-Phillipe of the French to be his son's wife.
The marriage caused a stir, after all the girl was a Catholic and the marriage required Papal dispensation on her part to wed a Protestant who would not convert, while the UKA had carried over Freedom of Religion from the American Republic, there was an ugly undercurrent of Anti-Catholicism in American political culture, and whispers against Clémentine would haunt her life in America.
Never the less the marriage of Prince Augustus, Duke of New York and Princess Clémentine of Orléans would be seen as a happy, successful occasion, and the highlight of 1840 for many in the nation.
Their marriage would prove to be interesting due to both Augustus and Clémentine having strong personalities, however the pair were able to form a bond of friendship in time, but as Augustus I noted in his diaries that friendship did not equal love and hinted that he had maintained a number of mistresses behind closed doors during the worst periods of their marriage.
Their marriage produced issue, five children, Prince Augustus Frederick the Duke of New York, Prince Philip the Duke of Virginia, Princess Augustina of the United Kingdom of America, Princess Caroline of the United Kingdom of America, and Prince John George, Duke of Massachusetts (the future Tsar of Bulgaria).
When King Augustus Frederick I died in 1843, King Augustus I found himself the King of a nation at the eve of war, despite the controversies the sheer amount of land that could be gained from bringing Texas into the Kingdom was simple too much to resist, so the young King began the negotiations with Texas President Sam Houston to bring the Republic into the Kingdom, however the Mexican Republic still saw Texas as a rogue province and attacked American troops stationed near a disputed river town, detonating the Mexican-American War (1845-1847) that saw heavy casualties on both sides and despite stiff Mexican resistance, in 1846 the capital of Mexico fell to American forces, bringing about the end of Santa Anna's Republican dictatorship, the remnants of the Mexican government agreed to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that saw Mexico lose over 56% of it's territories north of the Rio Grande, the UKA now included the former Republic of Texas and lands stretching all the way to California and the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to this the Mexican Republic was dissolved and agreed to establish a Second Mexican Empire with a monarch of Augustus I's choosing, and after some consideration the victorious King chose Agustín Jerónimo de Iturbide y Huarte, the son of the previous Mexican Emperor, thus becoming Emperor Agustín II of Mexico.
However with these victories came problems, namely a major swelling of Republicanism in America, along with growing divides between supporters of slavery and supporters of abolition, and the shrinking number of neutrals in the slaver/abolition divide. Augustus I tried to find an acceptable compromise, but with growing international opposition to slavery killing the once robust trade from Africa, and growing demand for slave labor thanks to the rise of King Cotton in the southern UKA, a stand would have to be taken in one direction or another.
So in 1857 when rumors began to swirl that the King would move to abolish slavery in the UKA, even with generous restitution to the former owners, a number of plantation owners, politicians, military officials, and die-hard Republicans gathered in the city of Charleston and proclaimed their independence from the UKA as the Federation of American Republics (or FoAR), a large swelling of Provinces in the southern UKA quickly joined in this Proclamation against the crown. Augustus I's response to this blatant treason was swift and furious, the industrious lands of the northern UKA were mobilized to produce soldiers, supplies, and ammunition to quickly deal with the traitors, the American Civil War (1857-1859) saw three years of devastating conflict in the United Kingdom, with the Federals discovering that due to a lack of heavy industrialization that they were at a significant disadvantage, and with the King being kin to both the French and British royal families saw their plans for international recognition fail before they began, the only real advantage the FoAR had was experienced generals and better trained troops due to the southern UKA having a stronger military tradition than the northern regions, but this advantage became smoke in the wind.
By the beginning of 1859 the Federal cause had collapsed, it's government either captured or fled into exile, and Augustus I triumphant, the American Monarchy was here to stay, slavery was abolished, and an ambitious plan of rebuilding the southern UKA would see it become a much more loyal region as the Monarch promoted the education and welfare of the former slave populations and encouraged immigration to the southern regions to drown out the remaining Federalists, not even a failed assassination attempt by a stage actor could thwart the King's plans.
The remainder of King Augustus I's reign would see America growth reach new heights as it became the first nation in the world to become an industrial power, the development of new ambitious technologies, the creation of new provinces out of territories gained from Mexico with the ever growing population would see America stand as one of the most diverse nations in the world. Though for the remaining First Peoples of the Americas, Augustus I created the Province of Sequoia to be their homeland and safe-haven (RL Oklahoma and parts of Northern Texas).
The King also had a number of royal residencies built in these new lands and would rotate his court regularly so that the whole nation could experience the Monarchy, in a new palace in California he held a wedding for his son Phillip and Princess Maria Ana of Mexico that also celebrated the transcontinental railroad, with many representatives from Europe having been brought over in comfort to a previous backwater to see it rise as a true monument to America's glory.
However in 1863 the American court was stunned when Prince John George was offered the crown of the new Tsardom of Bulgaria, carved out of the dying Ottoman Empire. The youngest son of King Augustus I accepted this new crown and departed for Europe, establishing a third branch of the House of Hannover in Europe.
King Augustus I lived until 1881, passing in his sleep on August 9th, leaving behind five children and a growing brood of grandchildren, passing the crown to Augustus Frederick II.
[3]
King Augustus Frederick II, photograph taken three days before his 37th birthday, two weeks before his ascension to the American Throne.
King Augustus Frederick II was born on July 18th, 1844 the eldest of the five children of King Augustus I, like his father before him the future King was made Duke of New York and educated privately by tutors during his youth, even in the midst of the American Civil War the royal family stayed put in New York City despite initial fears of possible Federalist attack on the city in the first year of the war.
The Prince would be joined in the royal household by his siblings, though while he got along with Prince Philip, Duke of Virginia, it was privately noted by the household that he had a more difficult relationship with his youngest sibling, Prince John George, it is said that one of the reasons that John George accepted the Bulgarian crown years later when it was offered was to get away from his brother before he became King.
The future King would become the first member of the royal attend university, in Augustus Frederick's case this would be Harvard where he studied political theory and became the first member of the royal family to earn a degree, a most unusual thing for royalty in the 19th century, though this would become the standard in later generations.
His father considered a number of matches for his son before settling on the members of the British branch of the House of Hannover, though it proved difficult to convince Queen Victoria to allow a third daughter to depart overseas, in the end that great monarch was convinced and allowed her daughter the Princess Louise to become engaged with her American cousin.
On June 4th 1868 the Prince Augustus Frederick married his distant cousin, Princess Louise of the United Kingdom, the groom was 24, the bride had recently turned 20. The wedding was celebrated to great acclaim in New York City in the Royal Palace, where the visiting members of the British House of Hannover (and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) were amazed at the rising skyline of the city.
While the marriage would prove a happy one for the couple, it would ultimately produce only a single daughter, Princess Victoria Clementine, named after her grandmothers.
During the last years of the Prince's life as heir-apparent his sisters married into the royal houses of Europe, though his brother Prince Philip would marry Mexican royalty and spend his life moving between properties in America and Mexico due to unrest in Mexico during much of the 19th century.
In 1881, Augustus I was found to have passed in his sleep and King Augustus Frederick II took the throne of America, inaugurated in New York City, his wife at his side along with their daughter and heir-apparent due to lack of male issue.
While some still hoped for a male heir, Augustus Frederick II had accepted that he would only have one daughter and had her educated accordingly.
The great age of technology, industry, and some would say a 'gilded age' would truly come into it's own during Augustus Frederick II's reign, however it would also bring with it great unrest from the lower social classes that had been left behind in the development of industry, along with the pressures of corporate monopolization, and rampant greed.
The new King was aware of a need for the nation to perverse the natural wonders that made it such a unique place in the world, under the advice of Prime Minister Theodore Roosevelt, the United Kingdom of America established the world's first system of national parks, land set aside and preserved as is to be enjoyed by future generations.
On the international front Augustus Frederick II was quick to promote American interests, while working to both preserve and further the cause of "The glorious Godly ordained system of government that is Monarchy." To that end he supported a failed attempt at establishing a number of puppet-monarchies in South America, and undercut attempts by a number of corporate entities to overthrow the monarchy of Hawaii, preserving Queen Liliʻuokalani's throne, though he did establish a Treaty of Friendship with Hawaii that would see America establish a major naval base to help establish America in the Pacific. The King also supported efforts to prevent the overthrow of the Brazilian Empire and kept Pedro II on his throne, eventually seeing Empress Isabel of Brazil become that nation's first female ruler.
However the new King wasn't above taking advantage of weaknesses, while the nation of Japan had been forcibly opened to trade, and the dying Qing dynasty of China saw the Chinese lands being exploited by the predatory powers of Europe, to keep China from being destroyed and seeing the world fall into war over it, Augustus Frederick II convinced the European powers that instead of outright colonization that Europe (and America) should establish 'Zones of influence' in China, though he did convince China to lease the city of Shanghai to America for a hundred years in 1891, similar deals had been struck involving Hong Kong and Macau, Shanghai would in time become known as 'America's Asian Jewel' and a bastion of stability.
It was America that competed with Japan for both the island of Formosa (Taiwan) and control over Korea, though Japan managed to win the day in Korea and turned into a colony, the island of Formosa fell under American control.
There was talk of purchasing territory from Canada and Russia on the North American continent, however it came to nothing and the Oregon Territory became part of Canada, while Alaska would remain part of Russia.
However America truly shocked Europe when a number of incidents between the UKA and Spain spiraled out of control into full-blown war, the American Kingdom surprised Europe by winning a quick war against the crumbling Spanish empire, revealing that America was now a stable naval power as much as a military one, adding Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines into the Kingdom's fold.
Augustus Frederick II's reign also saw major social changes either take place, begin, or find roots in his reign, feminism as an ideology first emerged and women began to campaign for the right to vote, even Queen Louise was a noted supporter of reform. Others wanted to reform electoral laws, others wanted to continue improving the lives of the former African slaves, changes were made to end abusive monopolization in industry and improvements in safety standards ensured consumers were not at risk from the items bought.
Augustus Frederick II saw the turn of the century and to celebrate became the first monarch to both ride in an automobile and to buy one, a Model T that was personally delivered to the palace by Henry Ford himself.
But in late November of 1901 the King contracted pneumonia and died on February 5th 1902. His successor was his daughter, Clementine.
[4]
Queen Clementine of America, photo taken with her eldest son the Prince Augustus, Duke of New York in 1904.
Queen Clementine, born Princess Victoria Clementine was born on October 23, 1875, the only child of King Augustus Frederick II and last member of the House of Hannover to rule America. While many expected her to be the first of several children, she would prove to be the only child of her father's otherwise happy marriage to Queen Louise. Educated privately in the royal household, the future Queen proved a quick witted student who excelled in mathematics and the sciences and her interests would lead her to become a patron of many important inventors.
Popular in the nation due to her good looks, charm, and being the daughter of the King at a time of great prosperity for the nation, the future Queen became a fixture in the American social scene, with many speculating on whom she would ultimately marry.
After several suitors were considered, her father settled on a Russian nobleman, Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of the Romanovs, despite Paul's attachment to a commoner woman, he was convinced to set aside the affair in favor of a much more prestigious match with the heir to the American throne.
In 1895 the pair were married, the bride was 20, the groom 35, and brought his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna from his brief first marriage with him as he wife's step-daughter.
The marriage would produce three children, Prince Augustus, Duke of New York, Princess Mary Augusta, and Prince Alexander, Duke of California. the last of whom would become King due to tragic reasons.
It was in late 1901 that the couple learned that Clementine's father was sick and dying and prepared for her ascension to the throne, in 1902 Clementine became the first female ruler in American history and formally dropped the use of 'Victoria' in her name, going only by Clementine for reasons that remain speculative.
It was soon after the inauguration that the public was made aware that the young Prince Augustus, Duke of New York had been born with Hemophilia, the great genetic legacy of a random mutation in the blood of Queen Victoria that had passed as a recessive through her daughter Louise, her granddaughter Queen Clementine, and on down to her great-grandson.
Despite this problem the Queen produced two more children, the Princess Mary Augusta (who ultimately chose to never marry), and Prince Alexander who was born without the disease.
The true test of Clementine's reign came during the outbreak of World War I in Europe, looking aghast with horror at the unprecedented levels of death and destruction on the continent, the Queen and many Americans chose to stay out of the conflict in neutrality.
However as news filtered in of atrocities committed by the Central Powers of the German Empire, the French Orleans Kingdom, and Italy, against the Allied Powers of Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Britain, many in America began to push for the UKA to become involved. What pushed America into the conflict was the sudden and stunning collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 and the formation of the Soviet Union and it's threats of world revolution.
America joined the Allies, first by supporting the royal exiles of the Russian Empire by sending military assistance to Alaska, allowing Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich to establish the Tsardom of Alaska with himself as Tsar Vladimir I of Alaska and prevented Soviet invasion of Alaska, which they regarded as a rogue state.
The major contribution of America to the war in Europe was sending supplies and reinforcements at a time when it could tip the scales one way or the other. By 1918 the Allies were victorious against the Central Powers, in the peace that followed Louis Phillip III of France was forced to abdicate in favor of the Second French Republic (though it would only last three years before seeing Louis Phillip IV restored), the German Empire didn't surrender so much as it collapsed into violent revolution that required the Allies assist in the creation of a number of new nations, most notably the Kingdom of the Germanies. Italy was forced to give up several pieces of valuable territory to Austria-Hungary, which despite instability had survived the war intact.
However as Clementine noted with prescience the rise of the USSR meant that a new war would come and it would be worse than the last.
The next year, even as the American economy boomed into the beginning of the roaring twenties would see the deaths of Prince-Consort Paul Alexandrovich from tuberculosis and Prince Augustus, Duke of New York from a fall that cause internal injury and the Prince to bleed to death.
Despite these personal tragedies, the Queen continued to reign until 1927 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and the remainder of her reign was spent under a regency under her only remaining son Prince Alexander while she died slowly, passing on August 8th, 1929 at just age 54.
[5]
King Alexander of the United Kingdom of America, photo taken a few months prior to World War II.
King Alexander of the United Kingdom of America, the second son and third born of Queen Clementine and her husband Prince-Consort Paul Alexandrovich and the first member of the House of Romanov to rule the United Kingdom America would rise to the throne a few months prior to the Great Crash of 1929 that would see the global economic tank and see the Great Depression dominate the economy of America.
King Alexander was born on May 4th, 1901 in the last year of the reign of Augustus Frederick II, the only known child to be spared the genetic trait and illness of hemophilia, Mary Augusta having refused to get married leaving her status unknown. It became expected that either Alexander would inherit the throne from his brother, or hopefully his children would do so. Never the less he received the same education his brother did due to the possibility that Alexander would become King in his own right.
Both siblings would attend university, though Alexander chose Yale to study psychology, though his mother forbade him to ever take up the practice in public. While his brother chose to not marry and potentially inflict his sickness on a future child, Alexander was expected to get married and produce many children.
While a number of royal ladies were considered, the future King married Lady Ava Alice Muriel Astor, the daughter of John Jacob Astor IV, 4th Viscount Astor, much to the shock of American society that had expected a royal match. While the Queen and future Queen-consort Ava never got along, never the less she approved the match due to her son's obvious love for the girl.
The match would prove tumultuous, with many ups and downs, and it would produce four children, Prince Augustus, Princess Ava Victoria, and the twins Prince Paul and Princess Alexandra.
With the unexpected illness of his mother in the late 20's, the future King was forced to become Regent for the remainder of his mother's reign, ascending to the throne scant months before the collapse of the global economy and the downfall of the Hoover Premiership and the rise of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the role.
With Roosevelt's encouragement, Alexander promoted aggressive government projects and spending to try and revitalize the economy, which did provide some relief, the true recovery would happen with the advent of World War II when the Soviet Union under the leadership of Chairman Trotsky made good on the promises of World Revolution by launching a sudden and stunning invasion of Poland, leading to France, Britain, and the Germanies declaring war on the USSR. However the USSR was prepared and quickly defeated and occupied much of Eastern and Central Europe, pushing the war right to the Third French Kingdom, despite fierce fighting, the Soviets managed to defeat France and swiftly occupied the nation and killed as many of it's royal family as it could.
America was quickly drawn into the war due to a Soviet attack on allied Alaska, even while China grappled with Communist takeover and Japanese invasion (with American support).
Britain found quick relief from the Soviet bombings on their nation with the Americans joining the war, a brutal grueling war was waged in which America embraced 'Total War', gearing its' economic might towards the total destruction of the USSR. The war started in 1938 and ended in 1945 and left Europe and Asia in ruins, much of the old order was destroyed, but the USSR's true doom came with the American invention of the atomic bomb, seeing a weapon of terror that could wipe out entire cities, the Soviet leadership turned on Trotsky and it was Chairman Stalin that surrendered to the Allies in 1945, ending Communist rule and discrediting it as an ideology.
Europe saw much reorganization, a new German Empire was established, Austria and Hungary were restored to two branches of the Habsburgs, a number of new smaller nations arose, some monarchies and others republics, the Tsardom of Bulgaria was restored, the French after being ruled by Soviet France created the Fourth French Kingdom under the rule of the last Orleans left, Queen Marie of the French. The USSR was dissolved and turned into the Russian Federation, a democracy that recognized Alaska as an independent nation.
In Asia the stresses of fighting the Communists ruined the Japanese Empire, leading to it letting go of Korea, and the rise of truly independent Chinese Republic.
Much of the Imperial Age would begin to pass away with the end of World War II, with even America allowing territories like Formosa, Cuba, and the Philippines to become independent nations.
However the stresses of the war, victorious or not for America took it's toll on Alexander and his body, the King was weakened by lung cancer from his heavy smoking habit, leading to his eventual death on September 11, 1950.
[6]
King Augustus II in an official photo taken in the early 2000's.
King Augustus II, born on April 2nd 1923 was heir-apparent from birth and made Duke of New York. Like his father before him he was educated privately and attended Yale where he studied political science.
Seen as something of a playboy Prince in his youth, this grated on his father during the difficulties of his reign, there was speculation that the future King would marry various women but it came to nothing, until in 1949 when his father was becoming sick that he met his future wife, the aspiring actress Grace Kelly.
While she had had ambitions of earned fame in Hollywood, and being Catholic as well, never the less the Prince wooed her, even after becoming King and in 1951 despite trepidation, Grace agreed to marry the King and become Queen of America.
The marriage would prove to be a loving and happy match with three children born, Prince Augustus Frederick, Princess Alice, and Princess Margaret.
The King would precede over a lessening of the royal prerogative, with the Prime Minister and Parliament becoming more and more powerful while his role became ceremonial, the popularity of the monarchy has stayed strong. Even as America has undergone significant social, economic, demographic, and technological changes, become the premiere world power and international leader in both politics and economics, and has seen the rise and fall of several Prime Ministers.
Augustus II's reign has been the longest in American history, as of the present lasting 68 years and counting, the King is 95 and still in good health, though reportedly a bit frail and has lived to see the births of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and recently great-great grandchildren.
His current heir is Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of New York, his heir is Prince Alexander, Duke of California, and with the recent birth of Prince Augustus of California the rule of House Romanov in America seems assured.
