MotF 134: What has the Emperor Ever Done for us?

[Upvoteanthology]

What has the Emperor Ever Done for us?

The Challenge
Show a state which claims to be a remnant or successor of a formerly great empire, but is far from it.

The Restrictions
There are no restrictions on when your PoD or map may be set. Fantasy, sci-fi, and future maps are allowed, but blatantly implausible (ASB) maps are not.

If you're not sure whether your idea meets the criteria of this challenge, please feel free to PM me.

Please try to keep images posted in this thread a reasonable size - feel free to post a smaller version of your image and provide link to a full-size version if you want to.

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The entry period for this round shall end when the voting thread is posted on Sunday the 3rd of April.

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THIS THREAD IS FOR ENTRIES ONLY.

Any discussion must take place in the main thread. If you post anything other than a map entry (or a description accompanying a map entry) in this thread then you will be asked to delete the post. If you refuse to delete the post, post something that is clearly disruptive or malicious, or post spam then you may be disqualified from entering in this round of MotF and you may be reported to the board's moderators.

Remember to vote on the previous round of MotF!​

 

[Upvoteanthology]

Shitty exercise in speed-cartography, this one took me 20 minutes to make. The premise centers around a more powerful Mongol Empire, who secure Ukraine further than they did, and eventually form another horde around it. In the end, it becomes heavily Europeanized, and essentially claims Ulaanbaatar for the Europeans.

 

[Zek Sora]

Inspired by Upvote's 20-minute speed cartography, I decided to do some speed cartography of my own. Of course, me being me and Upvote being Upvote means that mine took not 20 minutes, but 4-5 hours. (Also, I may or may not have made this map entirely for the Monty Python reference, which is certainly in keeping with the current contest.)

Nobody Expects the Peruvian Inquisition!

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The basic premise is that the Spanish king is dethroned during a different, French Republic-centered, Napoleonic Wars, making Spain into a Republic (of sorts) and causing what was left of the Spanish royal family to flee to their American colonies. However, most of the rebellions go off on schedule, and the TTL Spanish overlords are even less equipped to fight them than the OTL ones. The Royal Family is slaughtered in their beds after the King refuses to flee Bogotá, seeing it as a sign of weakness. However, the Peruvian ruling class, searching for something, anything to unite the lower classes behind them in preserving the old systems and battling the rebel armies all around them, smuggles a precious treasure out of the burning city: the infant who would later become Carlos V of Spain. With this powerful symbol to rally behind, the Peruvians secured their borders and became officially the last piece of land held by the Kingdom of Spain. Today, the Kingdom is effectively ruled by an oligarchical upper class, with the King essentially powerless in the face of their resources.​

 

[OAM47]

This is a major deviation from my normal style, and perhaps even my first non-world map.

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The Romanate of Balearica was one of several rump states that emerged following the fall of central authority in the Roman Empire when Constantinople was lost to the Turks in the late 15th Century. Though the late Empire was undeniably outclassed in terms of land forces and on a local level in Asia Minor and the Balkans, Roman naval power had never been broken. Furthermore, desperate reforms in the last few decades of its existence saw greater autonomy and naval authority given to a few of the more far flung provinces. Not all of these regions survived the following decades, and while most were internally stable, none had anywhere close to enough clout to claim full Imperial powers. An uneasy sort of limbo existed until 1523 when Venice lead the formation of the Romanate League, considering of four surviving states that could trace themselves back to Roman rule. The term "Romanate" was invented by the league more as a symbol of unity against outside threats than any indication of internal government or even parity between members. Indeed, while Venice, Balearica, Crete, and Corsica-Sardinia all formally called themselves Romanates, from the beginning, both from contemporary and historical perspectives Venice was first among equals. Individually each Romanate was militarily weak, but rich from trade and hit above what one would expect from nations of their size due to excellent seamanship and naval doctrine. The League survived the Ottoman invasion of 1601, which brought Venetian annexation of Crete, making Balearica the undisputed most junior partner, but met its end after mid 17th Century realignments caused Venice to drop support in exchange for closer ties with mainland Southern Europe.

The map below shows the administration of Balearica at its height, circa 1650. Each of the four major islands historically had had vastly different roles in the Roman economy, causing some internal tension. Late Balearica was a fairly well developed, but struggling merchant republic, and was divided into three administrative which to a degree acted autonomously. In united affairs Maiorica had long since reached a point of utter dominance, however, and Balearica's economy and population was slowly centralizing around the island. Palmaria had been the de facto provincial capital for over 1500 years making it nearly the only choice for a national capital, and thus granting Maiorica even more power. By 1653 these tensions had come to a head. The local Minorican assembly began to make threats that the island would be better off looking for another major trading partner. In 1654 these tensions were then exploited as a casus belli to invade by France and establish their own administration on Minorca with local support. The Maiorican administration misjudged the position of the Romanate League and escalated the conflict. In 1655 the Romanate of Balearica ended after a swift and devastating Balearican defeat. Maiorica was annexed to France, with French ally Aragon annexing Ebusus and Formentera.

 

[Keperry]

First ever MotF entry, second ever Inkscape map, and it's in French, which I don't speak. So I beg of you, kind sirs and ladies, have mercy.

So here we have it: the Kingdom of Illyria, formerly the Illyrian Provinces, which as the last Bonaparte-ruled state in Europe considers itself the last remnant of Napoleon's French Empire. The PoD here is that Napoleon dies at the height of his power, leaving his empire intact but shaky; eventually the Empire in France is overthrown, as are all of the Bomaparte client monarchies elsewhere, leaving Illyria under a Vader branch as the last remnant. In reality it's a fractured and fractious realm constantly on the brink of collapse, divided into four federal provinces that each roughly correspond with one of the four main ethnic groups (Carniola for the Slovenes, Croatia for the Croats, Istria for the Italians, and Carinthia for the Germans) and having to juggle five official languages (the four previous plus French, which is still used as the main language of administration to keep up Napoleonic airs and avoid privileging one of the ethnic groups and therefore offending the other three). So far the Kingdom has just managed to hold itself together due to loyalty to the monarchy and the Napoleonic legacy and ideal of uniting all the peoples of Europe in brotherhood (or at least that's what the government keeps frantically repeating that the Napoleonic ideal is), and perhaps more pertinently due to fear of being torn apart by greater powers, who have already peeled off the southern half of the former Illyrian Provinces. However, a tide of nationalism is rising across Europe, and with the weak and ineffectual King Napoleon V on the throne, Illyria looks set to be torn apart between pan-Slavists, Slovenian and Croatian irredentists, and German and Italian separatists.

 

[Gog (♀)]

This is my first Inkscape map (thanks Upvote for the tutorial!) so go gentle!

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In 2061, the unthinkable happened. Already heavily encroaching seas were hit by several meteors full of water from melted ice. While these meteors did not destroy earth, they almost drove humanity to destruction. The water swelled and wiped entire countries and hundreds of millions in a matter of a few days, and left little in its wake. In the chaos, the United States was torn asunder. The rocky mountains and Appalachia were what were left of the once great nation. Mormon separatists, anarchists, native american rebels, warlords, and all manner of factions fought in the west and what was left of the United States lived in the Appalachian mountain range. It was controlled by a shaky national unity government for several years, battered by pirates and refugees, who had to be turned back with bullets. In 2080, a cabal of military men initiated a coup and installed a regime that, while brutal, staved away the pirates for some time. Though they were unable to push them out of the remnants of Tennessee for generations. Over decades, a measure of law and order was restored. In 2163, the NAIM, or New American Indian Movement, rose in the western regions were Cherokee natives were a large plurality in many areas. They were brutally suppressed, but merely went underground and fought the "occupiers." After a 20 year long insurgency, pro democracy and the NAIM defeated the junta and restored democracy. For 90 years things have changed extremely, but mostly for the better as pirates were slowly pushed out and relations with the Rocky mountain countries solidified.

 

[Samuel Von Straßburg]

For my first MotF entry, I give you the German Empire circa 1928.

The idea is that Crown Prince Wilhelm refused to accept the abdication of his father at he end of the First World War. He fled to Ober Ost and hid under the protection of Prince Leopold of Bavaria. In response to The signing of the Versailles treaty he declared himself King in the Königsberg Castle and crowned himself Emperor, in a similar fashion to his ancestor Frederick William 1st.

He then successfully took control of the German army units in the Baltics. He did not however attempt to march to Berlin to take control of the Empire because he feared the strength of the republican movement. He instead decided to fight the threat of Bolshevism in the Baltics. To do his he made a deal with the newly formed Second Polish Republic, in which he seceded land to Poland and agreed to the creation of the free city of Danzig. this was for a period of ten years before its reintegration into the German Empire, which would give Poland time to build up the port of Gdynia; (The Polish corridor provided a neat way of avoiding a boarder with Wiemar Germany). In return Poland agreed to ally with Germany in the face of the Bolshevik menace and to assist Germany gaining control over the Baltic states to prevent their falling to communism. In the ensuing wars Germany and Poland were successful in reaching their aims and more, which were cemented in the peace of Riga in 1924.

While the German Empire claims Berlin as its capital the defacto capital is Riga. While initially the plan had been to suppress all minorities within the Empire, this changed during the war to achieve stability and resulted in the accepting of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Ruthenian (Belorussian) and Jewish culture. Their languages are used in all administrative and governmental processes, alongside German as the main language of the state. Another method the empire used to create unity among the different ethnicity's was to creating army units out of mixed ethnicity's in order to foster a sense of comradeship. The focus on fighting communism with almost a religious zeal, led to the state being nicknamed by historians the Teutonic Order reborn.

As for the polish minority, a population exchange was agreed to with Poland to exchange the Polish minority for all Germans, Ruthenians (Belorussians) and Jews within Poland. There was also a steady stream of German immigrants trying to find particularly during the Hyperinflation. As a consequence of accepting Jewish culture, the Empire received a large flow of Jewish migrants fleeing persecution from various European states.

While it claims that it is the sole continuation of the German Empire, it has made no moves towards trying to reclaim the lost land from the Republicans. This is due to the fact that while it has managed to secure itself, it is in no way shape or form able to compete with Wiemar Germany. It has no where near the population, the resources or industry that Wiemar has. The reason that Wiemar tolerates the existence of this state is that if it were to attack it would mean war against Poland which would then drag in France and Britain into a war it could not win.

Particular thanks to Upvoteanthology for giving me some very useful feedback.

Hope you like my first MotF entry!!

http://samuel-von-strasburg.deviantart.com/art/Remnent-German-Empire-MotF134-600555023

 

[NeonHydroxide]

At the 1799 Battle of Zurich, the forces of the French Republic were routed by a coalition army of Austrian, Prussian, and Russian forces. This was the beginning of the end for the young nation; despite herculean efforts, by 1803 Coalition forces had captured Paris. Beginning in July of 1802, members of the French republican government had already begun to flee to the New World colonies, and this process continued as the Republic continued to hold in the southwest centered around Bordeaux as late as 1805. In that year La Rochelle, the last stronghold of the republican forces, fell, ending the French Revolutionary Wars. However, the republic continued in the territories of Louisiana and Saint-Domingue, never surrendering its claim to be the true representative of the French people and refusing to recognize the restored Bourbon monarchy.

 

[SRegan]

"Kion la Imperiestro faru por ni?"

Broken and defeated in the Great European War of 1900, its colonial possessions divvied up between France and her ally Britain, the German Empire began to fall apart.

The canary in the coalmine - in this case, the zinc mine - was the little territory of Neutral Moresnet, long disputed between Belgium and Germany, which declared its independence as the Free Esperanto State in 1908, later adopting the name Amikejo, or Friendly Place.

The miners were prepared to fight for their freedom, arming themselves with a variety of antique and makeshift firearms, but no-one turned up. Belgium, no doubt, would have made efforts to annex the territory, had they also not been in the grip of the Congo Crisis (1907-09).

With ragtag armies of Republicans, spartacists and communards closing in on Berlin, the decision was made for the Kaiser and his family to see refuge - the word 'exile' was not used. But where? France or Britain would be humiliating. Nor did the Kaiser wish to place himself in the hands of the Belgian king. Switzerland was possible, but the route seemed perilous.

Neutral Moresnet, as the world would insist on calling it well into the 1950s, presented itself as a safe alternative; still (as the Empire considered it) under imperial condominium with the Belgians but not Belgian territory as such; its self-declared President, Dr Wilhelm Molly, was a wildcard, but the mayor of Kelmis, the enclave's only town, was a known royalist.

The arrival of the Imperial family in Kelmis was a comedy of errors - the telegram sent ahead with the expected time of arrival had not been received, and the 'Von Preußens' were quartered in a small, shabby hotel while more suitable accommodations were pondered. Eventually the bank was settled upon as the most regal-looking building in the town - the safe was taken from the bank and stored in the postmaster's office.

Another obstacle presented itself. His Imperial Majesty demanded that his quarters - including the office he had been given in Kelmis town hall - be treated as an embassy; clearly concerned about the prospect of being subject to the rapidly expanding body of novel laws pumped out by the Free State. This proved a sticking point with Dr Molly, who was loathe to cede any part of Moresnet soil back to the Empire, but a considerable injection of funds into his Esperantist project (in fact, most of the Imperial family's remaining private capital) greased the wheels.

From his 'embassy' in Neutral Moresnet the Emperor received telegrams advising him of the shrinking extent of his realm - the Republicans consolidated their control over Berlin and began the long process of clamping down on the anarchist communes and Bolsvik Räterepubliks that had sprung up. Soon the messages from loyalist forces ceased and it became clear that the rooms the Emperor occupied were now the last vestiges of the German Empire.

Significant debate arose in Moresnet as to whether the Emperor should now be handed over to the Republicans - such a measure, it was thought, could guarantee the enclave's continued independence. Ultimately the decision was made for them - a telegram was received advising them that the German Republic considered former Emperor Wilhelm II to be in exile, and that if he returned to Germany he would face an automatic death sentence.

As little Moresnet prospered - establishing the University of Esperanto in 1930 and further developing its reputation as the 'Monte Carlo of the North' through its casinos and hotels (the latter a great deal swankier now), the sad remnants of the German Empire persisted as a tourist attraction, a gathering point for the growing body of disenfranchised European royalty, and on occasion a meeting place for adjudicating territorial disputes between countries who still valued the opinion of someone who called himself Emperor; Greece and Zapatoslavia, Bolivia and Chile.

And while the manservants and maidservants had a job for life - and for their children too - the feeling had long become that they were serving a dead end; that the Republic was now firmly here to stay, despite the Imperial family's yearly prophesy of its imminent downfall. And in the slightly musty rooms, containing all the trappings of the Holy Roman Empire that had been saved from Revolution, they began to whisper 'What has the Emperor ever done for us?'.

TLDR: Click to zoom in.

 

[Birdperson]

Another first-time MotF participant, and just in the nick of time. I apologize for the lack of a clear POD. The surrounding universe is still a work in progress.

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Initially just an amalgamation of small plantations and trade posts all along the northern coast of Meridia (OTL South America), Guiana has somehow become the renowned oddball of history. This brief section and accompanying map will show one of Guiana’s most extraordinarily strange geopolitical situations.

For a brief time in the late 17th century, Guiana became the de jure “Kingdom of Great Britain”, when the “12 Year’s War” and the following “August Revolution” laid waste to the British Isles and certain prominent men came forward with their ideas, the House of Lancaster seemingly fell and the “Republic” rose from its ashes. What these men didn’t account for was one sad young woman who would proof to be among the most fierce and determined people in history. This was of course Margarete, the dead king’s niece and heir-apparent since the crown-prince fell to the “republican savages” or “peridots”. Margarete left Britain on the Rosa, headed for Cork to (desperately) rally support among loyalists, but history would take her to a vastly different place, or rather one of her noble companions, Archibald Churchill.

The plantation owners reacted badly to the news of revolution at home, and with reluctance towards a royal in their adopted home. Margarete navigated the pitfalls of the colonies and their inhabitants with great skill but the Royal Guiana Company, run majorly by the plantation owners, chose her side over the Republic because of economic interests rather than her charms. They would benefit greatly from de facto independence, while the Republic was quick to spike tariffs on the northern colonies.

Over the following years, Margarete would participate in the government of the colonies, as it is important to remember that Guiana then was just a mix of plantations, settlements and trade posts, grouped together in vague dependencies. The fact that there exists a modern nation of Guiana has been repeatedly credited, in part, to Margarete's centralization-of-sorts policies. Of course the people of Guiana, then and now, wouldn’t need such historian-talk, they loved their “Margery” just so.

The Republic accepted the nuisance of the “Kingdom” for the time being and even allowed the Bretons to trade with the colonials, but largely dismissed Margarete and the few nobles that followed her, in the face of more pressing matters. The increasing stream of Lancaster loyalists, nobles and commoners alike, towards the Kingdom, went unnoticed by the Sovereign Protector.

Margarete of House Lancaster, “The Queen Who Never Was”, as she is referred to. She died of a protracted fever 15 years upon setting foot on St. John. Her lifelong goal of reclaiming her birthright remained unfulfilled and a year after her death the new ruler of the Republic, Benjamin Clinton, ordered the reintegration of the Guiana colonies. This took place with little bloodshed, although Clinton would be hard pressed finding sympathizers of the Republic.
He could impossibly fathom what kind of impact this, now dead woman would have upon the world.