Empire of the Pacific | California Empire TL

[Alpha_North]

I. Formed From The Rubble

Joshua A. Norton

"At the peremptory request of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the past nine years and ten months of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U.S..."
- Proclamation on San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin, Emperor Norton I
​

1859

• 17th of September - The San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin publish Emperor Norton's proclamation. He becomes a quick celebrity in the city of San Francisco.

• 12th of October - Emperor Norton I "abolishes" the U.S Congress in one of his Imperial proclamations.

1860

• March - The Emperor "commands" the U.S Army to depose the Congress.

• 15th of April - Emperor Norton begins a recruitment and training campaign to form a Royal Guard. Many volunteers in San Francisco join the Royal Guard, becoming a lightly-trained militia sponsored by businesses, that assists the police.

• 21st of May - The Royal Guard ends it's recruitment and training campaign, with nearly nine-hundred men a part of the Royal Guard, organized into units of a hundred, and further organized into groups of ten. These men are often self-equipped and trained in very basic formations and discipline.

• 12th of July - As Norton's popularity grows, and a small parade was organized on Fell Street, consisting of the Royal Guard and Emperor Norton riding on his bike. "Norton's Parade" as it would be called would boost the Emperor's popularity, as nearby cities hear about the Emperor of America.

• 23rd of October - Conflicts with the police force Emperor Norton to limit the freedom of the Royal Guard's patrols.

Norton's Royal Guard

James H. Carleton
​

1861

• 4th of March - Abraham Lincoln is elected as President of the United States.

• 11th of March - Emperor Norton writes about Abraham Lincoln, calling him an "exile with well-intentions".

• 12th of April - The American Civil War begins.

• 6th of May - Emperor Norton starts to reform his policing militia into a proper armed force in hopes to be involved in the Civil War.

• 1st of June - Norton's Royal Guard is reformed, replacing troops and properly outfitting some soldiers. They were more better trained, however not perfect in formations and discipline, and soon, they would number in around seven-hundred men.

• 13th of June - Norton's Royal Guard moved south to help fend off California of southern sympathizers to the south. While travelling, he would introduce himself to the rest of California and soon become a small myth among Californians.

• 20th of June - When Norton's men reached southern California, they were disgruntled to find out that Californian secessionists were already taken cared of. However, Norton assumed that these Confederate-affiliated Californians would go eastward to Texas. Joined by James H. Carleton as an adviser, the Royal Guard rested up, then soon marched to the border of California and the New Mexico territory.

• 11th of July - Emperor Norton and his Royal Guard would attempt to stop the flow of men and weapons heading towards the Confederacy at the border. With the first conflict happening when a gang of Southern Californians would raid one of the Royal Guard's camps, killing nine soldiers in the process, but with seven dead in the retaliated fire.

• 15th of September - After a slow, but successful end to Californian movement eastward to the Confederacy, the 1st Californian Infantry Regiment stepped in to take on the role of defending the border.

Battle of Glorieta Pass
​

1862

• 28th of March - the Union forces would lose at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. Confederate forces are able to take much of the New Mexico territory and California regiments are to be re-summoned to fight off these Confederates.

• 19th of April - Confederates hold up in Tucson and California volunteers, including the Royal Guard, now James H. Carleton as the commander and Emperor Norton as an adviser. They siege it, beginning the Siege of Tucson.

• 21st of April - Royal Guards alone are able to create an opening at the west wall, forcing Confederates to defend that point more, and allow other Californians to break in the other side an envelope the enemy forces, winning.

• 24th of April - Norton awards James H. Carleton with the "Imperial Badge", which was a red-white-blue ribbon containing a leather patch with the 13 state US flag on it.

• 26th of April - Emperor Norton formally dissolves the Royal Guard, with some heading back to San Francisco, including Emperor Norton, while others continue their military journey and join the Union as Californian volunteers.

• 2nd of May - Emperor Norton and his San Francisco veterans came back to the city as heroes, as local newspapers praised the soldiers for their bravery and calling Norton a legend.

 

[Alpha_North]

Well this is just an attempt to make Emperor Norton an actual emperor. A small challenge for myself and for the entertainment of others, but I can't wait to see some feedback on this!

 

[Alpha_North]

II. Let San Francisco Be My Home

Leland Stanford

The Norton Flag
​

1863

• 13th of January - Emperor Norton begins organizing funding drives in San Francisco to help the Union cause.

• 2nd of February - Joshua Norton travels to Sacramento where he is able to meet Governor of California, Leland Stanford.

• 16th of April - Norton would help organize funding drives across California, mostly in San Francisco though, to assist the Union.

• 1st of July - Confederate soldiers win at the Battle of Gettysburg.

• 21st of July - A young Oakland artist presents an altered US flag to Emperor Norton, soon being called the Norton flag.

• 18th of September - The Confederacy negotiates with the Union after Gettysburg and they win their independence. Confederates gain the Indian Territory. The Civil War Ends. The Confederacy is victorious.

• 10th of October - Emperor Norton would commence one of his standard philosophical expositions, but this specific one would be known as Norton's Howl. This speech, although likely just a part of Norton's persona, would influence much of the Western coast, having many question the United States government at certain measures after their failure.

"...Oh great subjects,
as the Lord has chosen man to guide this Earth,
he had laid crowns on the heads of chosen ones.
Oh great subjects,
as man chose to refuse god's chosen ones,
they laid crowns upon themselves,
and they kill their brethren to fight for what god had already chose!
Oh great subjects,
has not this government brought war to our homes,
has not this government brought war to our families,
has not this government put the greed of man before the power of the Lord?!
Let god choose his chosen,
and I shall promise you,
you shall have your peace, your prosperity, and your freedom."

Firefighters at the Burning of the San Francisco Daily Building

The Glendale Redcoats
​

1864

• 12th of April - Emperor Norton takes a trip to Los Angeles where he is named the "Emperor of Insanity & Madness" by Los Angeles newspapers.

• 16th of April - San Francisco newspapers were outraged at the Los Angeles papers for putting their emperor in a bad light. The San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin would condemn the Los Angeles newspapers, especially the Los Angeles Star for "soiling the glorious emperor in the mud of pigs". The San Francisco Daily would call the Los Angeles Star the "confederate mistress-paper of California", putting up the fact that their founder was pro-slavery.

• 27th of May - The San Francisco Daily newspaper building is set on fire during the night. Firemen try to save it, but soon, nearly a fourth of the building is burnt down. Although forced to work at home much of the time, the San Francisco Daily publish an article claiming that Los Angeles scum burnt their building down.

• 15th of July - A Los Angeles Star writer is killed in an alleyway. The LA Star soon blame the San Francisco Daily for the murder, and quickly scoff at the idea that they burnt down any sort of building.

• 3rd of August - San Francisco Daily relocates some of their business near LA and San Jose after the burning of their newspaper building. The branch of the San Francisco Daily near LA becomes the Glendale Chronicle.

• 14th of August - Los Angeles ruffians publicly attack a Glendale man, mistaking him for a writer at the Glendale Chronicle. In response, San Francisco Daily, Glendale Chronicle, and what has formed into the San Jose Weekly, bash the Los Angeles Star for the attack.

• 17th of August - Glendale crooks dressed in weak-fabric suits kill a Los Angeles Star writer in his home, killing his wife as collateral. The LA Star would call these men the Glendale Redcoats.

• September - Glendale & Los Angeles ruffians would fight in constant battles in both cities, being called the "War of Penmen" by Mayor Henry P. Coon of San Francisco.

• 7th of October - the Glendale Chronicle would be forced to shut down when it was discovered that they were directly assisting in these gang wars.

• 29th of November - Joshua Norton would declare his candidacy for Mayor of San Francisco, being supported by businesses he promised he would ease to when becoming Major.

• 1st - 7th of December - Emperor Norton would give speeches across San Francisco, adopting a pro-business policy, but also holding keen on some pro-worker policies.

Mayor Henry P. Coon of San Francisco
​

1865

• 20th of February - Henry P. Coon calls Norton the "Mad Emperor", influenced by Los Angeles newspapers. The San Francisco public didn't take this well and openly threw rocks and sticks at the man.

• 16th of May - By popular majority, Emperor Norton is elected as Mayor of San Francisco.

 

[Herr Frage]

Oh this could be fun.

I hope Emperor Norton is not corrupted by power.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

This is one of the must unusual TL I've seen, I like it !

 

[Alpha_North]

III. He Who Rules In San Francisco

Aftermath of the 1865 San Jose Terror Attack​

1865

• 2nd of June - Emperor Norton places in the first policies to ease up on businesses, while also making plans of new worker policies.

• 17th of July - The newspaper gangs soon branch off their relations with their newspapers and run a muck in California.

• 17th of August - Emperor Norton creates a plan called the "Kingdoms Initiative", where he planned to organize the states into kingdoms that would be above the states, but below the federal government.

• 1st of September - Confederate-affiliated terrorists attack San Jose, using grouped-up sticks set on fire, burning down much of Quimby Road. A black metal nine-pointed star would be found near the scene and the San Jose Weekly would call the group the Black Star.

• 23rd of November - Norton sets up compensation offices to assist families that lost loved-ones during the Civil War.

• 18th of December - Emperor Norton sends investigators to San Jose to help track down these terrorists.

Emperor Norton of the United States, Lord of San Francisco

Arrest Papers of Black Star members
​

1866

• 16th of February - Norton sends militias to the LA area to assist the criminal activity that has a presence there.

• 4th of April - The Black Star are discovered in Fremont planning to attack San Francisco and are arrested.

• 27th of May - Emperor Norton would assist William C. Ralston, founder of the Bank of California, in his plan to extend Montgomery Street past Howard Street, and the two men soon became friends.

• 1st of October - The Palace Hotel owned by William is renamed Imperial Hotel.

• 18th of November - The term "Party of Norton" would be first established by Californian newspapers, defining it as Joshua Norton's sphere of influence across California.

• 21st of December - Emperor Norton takes a trip to New York City, and publishes a short story called "He Who Rules", a tale about a man who killed his son for trying to run away and now tortures his others, a metaphor for the American political climate. The story soon becomes widespread across New York, and soon, across the northeast coast.

The barn was silent. Hay that fed no animals laid across the barn, stiff and prickly. Then a man entered, pulling in his son by the collar. He tossed the boy down as if it was a child and his toy. The man pulled out his whip. His slaves were freed by his country, so let the weapons of suffrage he held be used. His eyes were crimson, filled with emptiness. His blue shirt covered in red, the blood of his dead son. He was no father, but the slaver of his children, and he won't let them run. Smack! Drops of blood ran down the boy's back. Tears of pain and sadness ran down his red cheeks. Smack!
"Father...pl-" the son wailed, but before he could even finish moving his lips.
Smack!
The man was silent. He held no tears. He killed his kin and so he shall make sure that would never happen again. Even if it meant he would strangle his sons by the throat to make it happen. - He Who Rules (pg. 12)​

​

​

King Kamehameha V of Hawaii

William C. Ralston​

1867​

• 18th of March - Emperor Norton assists in the vanquishing of the California gangs, being given much credit.

• 7th of May - Norton begins writing letters to King Kamehameha V of Hawaii, soon establishing foreign relations with the ruler.

• 20th of June - Emperor Norton would announce that he would not go for reelection and would try to put up Ralston as his successor.

• 16th of August - Frank McCoppin, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, says he is running for Mayor.

• 9th of September - Emperor Norton would spread the fact that McCoppin was not a naturalized U.S citizen. McCoppin's popularity would soon plummet.

• 17th of September - Frank McCoppin would pull out from the election for Mayor. Henry P. Coon, former Mayor, takes his place, but is very unpopular.

• 2nd of December - William C. Ralston wins the election for the Mayor of San Francisco.

 

[Herr Frage]

I wonder other than the Hawaiians is anyone outside California taking his imperial majesty seriously? I could see 'back east' people laughing and shaking their heads that California isa place a madman can be elected mayor.

I am guessing Norton is aiming to be Governor next?

 

[Alpha_North]

I wonder other than the Hawaiians is anyone outside California taking his imperial majesty seriously? I could see 'back east' people laughing and shaking their heads that California isa place a madman can be elected mayor.

I am guessing Norton is aiming to be Governor next?

You'll just have to wait and see!

 

[Wolttaire]

the usa will send someone soon to take this down

 

[Alpha_North]

the usa will send someone soon to take this down

Again I'll say my friend, we'll see.

 

[Whiteshore]

Does he have any succession plan for his "empire"?

 

[Herr Frage]

the usa will send someone soon to take this down

Has he done anything illegal? To many he is an upstanding citizen who has carried out civic projects, organized and lead militia against the Confederate invasion, and legally been elected mayor of a major city; and carried out his campaign promises. His criticism of the US government may be vulgar to many eyes, but it is still free speech.

OTL Norton's arrest nspred outcry an protest, if he is arrested at this point in is career I expect riots.

 

[Wolttaire]

12 kingdoms plan would be violating the federal government so soon they will becoming down on them

 

[Herr Frage]

12 kingdoms plan would be violating the federal government so soon they will becoming down on them

Political science debate and proposals are not illegal. He has not violated any laws by proposing this idea to the public I believe.

Now if he tries to implement it...

Well first he would need a way to even try.

 

[SuperZtar64]

Watched watched double watched!

also, it's "amok" not "a muck" (located in 1865) quick nitpick

 

[Alpha_North]

Watched watched double watched!

also, it's "amok" not "a muck" (located in 1865) quick nitpick

Got it! Thanks ;lp

 

[Alpha_North]

IV. Known Across The Golden State

The San Jose Massacre
​

1867

• 11th of December - While Emperor Norton was visiting San Jose, a police officer arrests him for lunacy.

• 13th of December - While some in San Jose are protesting the arrest, San Francisco citizens are filled with uproar for the arrest of their "Emperor" and many rioters soon march to San Jose.

• 14th of December - A mixture of San Francisco and San Jose citizens riot in San Jose, and they attempt to break the Emperor out of confinement, but fail. The trial of Norton is postponed due to the rioting.

• 16th of December - Mayor John A. Quinby of San Francisco refuses to see the release of Emperor Norton and he soon calls up local militias to fight off the rioters.

• 17th of December - San Francisco militias attempt to push the rioters out of San Jose, but conflict arises and militiamen fire upon people that were mostly equipped with sticks and clubs. As battle soon ensued, the militiamen were forced to flee, but not without causing many casualties, said to be fifty. The event would be called the San Jose Massacre.

• 18th of December - Police release Emperor Norton.

• 20th of December - Mayor Quinby resigns out of fear of further riots due to his blunder.

• 24th of December - Thanks to the influence of the San Jose Massacre and Emperor Norton's recommendation, the San Jose City Council decide to place Norton's close friend James H. Carleton, who rose up to be Major General during the Civil War and then became a veteran.

Mayor James H. Carleton

A Deadfish Brotherhood Robbery
​

1868

• 4th of January - With the help of Emperor Norton, Mayor Ralston and Mayor Carleton begin setting up compensation for victims' families through donations.

• 5th of January - When Mayor Carleton demand the trial of the militiamen that fired upon the rioters, many of these men flee from the city.

• 7th of January - During the militiamen's trial, known as the San Jose Massacre Trial, the militiamen would be found innocent, except one, who the others claimed that the man fired upon the crowd first, beginning the violence. The man was sentenced prison time, but he escaped his prison sentence by fleeing the city.

• 15th - 20th of January - Carriage robberies become frequent near the San Francisco, San Jose areas. Soon one of these robberies fail and a captured bandit answered officials by only saying the words "dead fish", seeming to show resistance to leadership and brotherhood with his fellow bandits. Soon, newspapers call these bandits, assumed to be the fled militiamen of San Francisco, the Deadfish Brotherhood.

• 23rd of January - Emperor Norton, with help from Mayor Carleton, would organize a walk across San Jose for the lives lost at the massacre. The San Jose Massacre Walk as it would be called.

• 17th of February - An assassination attempt on former Mayor Quinby fails, as the perpetrator is caught by officers before he could attack Quinby. The perpetrator would soon be discovered to be part of the Deadfish Brotherhood.

• 15th of April - The San Francisco City Council rename Quinby Street to Carleton Road by much request.

• May - June - Deadfish robberies, as they were soon called, begin to spread southward, as more young men disappear during the night, assumed to have joined the Deadfish Brotherhood. Propaganda is set up by local mayors, including Mayor Carleton & Ralston, to deter susceptible young men into joining the Deadfish Brotherhood.

• 12th of September - Emperor Norton would ask Mayors Carleton and Ralston to assist Norton into winning the senate seat of John Conness after his term ended. They agree.

• 26th of December - Mayor Ralston would blackmail Mayor Joel Turner of Los Angeles to assist Emperor Norton for a senate position. Emperor Norton is first against it, but Ralston convinces him that this is for the better.

Senator John Conness
​

1869

• 14th of February - John A. Quinby is found dead on the road near his home. It was assumed that Deadfish assassins killed him.

• 4th of March - A California legislature, thanks to the Mayors of San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles, chooses Joshua Norton as the new senator of California replacing John Conness.

 

[SuperZtar64]

O F H A P P E N I N G S

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

Senator, I wonder what is the Emperor's next step. Maybe Governor of California ? Or Presidency ?

 

[Alpha_North]

Senator, I wonder what is the Emperor's next step. Maybe Governor of California ? Or Presidency ?

*cough* military coup and civil war *cough*
Jk, or am I?