P.O.D: Despite the lobbying by Britain, the Dutch Republic and Prussia, internal pressures (such as vocal opposition by members of the Swedish government and Army) lead Gustav III to hold off his war planning (although at great reluctance) against Catherine II's Russia. The Uppsala Contract between the Swedish Crown and William Bolts, a independment but highly experienced merchant from the Netherlands. Gustav III honours the contract signed between Mr. Bolts and himself, a contract that allows Bolts, now a servant of the Swedish crown, which authorises a mission to establish a colony in New Holland.
This is my first TL so be easy on me
Also, if you are interested in finding out more about the venture that could have been, please read Gustaf III's Australian Colony by Robert King, you can find the full text at JSTOR.
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Excerpts from Goran Wallin's A Reluctant Venture: The Swedish Colonisation of Australia
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Boltsholmers celebrate 224th year of Founding
Sydney Morning Herald
7th of August, 2013
Two hundred and forty four years ago, while Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet were setting up their colony in New South Wales, a small Swedish fleet led by William Bolts arrived on Rottnest Island, claiming the Island for Sweden and King Gustav III before resettling on the banks of the Swan River a week later, where Boltsholm resides today. Every 7th of August, residents of the city come out to celebrate with a festival, Swedish parade and evening firworks. Boltsholm was the capital of Swedish New Holland, declared a Free City by King Gustav III of Sweden and would serve as a valuable trading port for Europeans arriving in the South Pacific and traders from the East Indies before becoming a territory of Great Britain.
But despite having lost their tie to Sweden, the British authorities allowed the residences of Swedish New Holland a reasonable level of autonomy, which included the right to celebrate all prior festivities, included in that was Bolts Day. But the interpretation of Bolts Day has seemed to change as the years come around. Some of the largest areas of the city who celebrate are, ironically, the Dutch and Afrikaner communities that reside in the city.
"We like to use the day to remind ourselves of where come from" explains Frederik van Bruen, the community organiser for the Dutch Quarter's Bolts Day celebrations "We like to look at it differently than Australia Day, because many in the community like to see Australia Day as a way of reminding ourselves that we live in Australia and that we are all united by that bond [of being Australian] but to see Bolts Day as a reminder of where our families came from, of our heritage. I love Bolts Day, most of the community loves Bolts Day and we celebrate with as much energy as we can." However, van Bruen does have one complaint about the day that his community loves so much:
"The secessionist movement love using today as a way of crowbarring their agenda down ordinary peoples throats without respecting other peoples' opinion, I find it quite annoying."
With another referendum set for July, 2014, many within the secessionist movement see today as a way of showing their true colours, trying to rile up the city as well as most of the State to vote for secession. A rally to be held by Mathias Johannsen, the Mayor of Boltsholm and staunch secessionist, is suspected to draw as many as fifty thousand attendants. But while the fervour of seccessionist ideals flow during the day, many just wait to see the spectacular fireworks display over the Swan River, the piece de resistance of Bolts Day, as replicas of the three original ships sail through the harbour, as the past salutes the present.
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TIMELINE COMING SOON
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Description: The Legacy of Bolts (if successful enough) will follow the history of Swedish-led colonisation of Western Australia from 1789 to modern day. As the thread grows, you'll find the posts more enriching with detail, full of battles, intrigue and exploration. Learn of the fate of William Bolts, the moment when Swedish New Holland becomes British, the rise of the Svenskaustralier Separatiströrelsen
Author's Note: As of now, there are many many many details that I am without knowledge of (like when Britain gets Boltsholm, what the hell to call the Swedish part of Australia) so do bare with me along the way. I hope to write titanic posts that are worthy of this venture. I am happy to take criticism and any suggestions from the AH community.
- Lord General Mihalic
This is my first TL so be easy on me
Also, if you are interested in finding out more about the venture that could have been, please read Gustaf III's Australian Colony by Robert King, you can find the full text at JSTOR.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpts from Goran Wallin's A Reluctant Venture: The Swedish Colonisation of Australia
Chapter One: The War that never was, the venture that followed.
....The commanders had been neutral on their feelings for a war against the Russian Empire but would nonetheless follow the orders of their monarch. Modern historians believe that the war may have commenced had it not been for Admiral Per Liljehorn, who held quiet opposition against aggressive operations against Russia. The Liljehorn Conspiracy as it is known in Sweden, who met with members of the Riksdag of the Estates in three private meetings to confirm indeed that Gustav III was planning an unconstitutional war of Aggression against Russia with the express purpose of regaining lost territroy, capturing the Russian Empire and deposing the Tsarina. The fate of Per Liljehorn after the Conspiracy are unknown, with general consensus being he fled to Norway but his actions would alter the course of history for years to come. When Gustav III was called to answer to accusations of war planning he would not deny it, explaining that it was his core belief that a swift strike against Russia could return Swedish prosperity to the North (This turned out to be a lie, as in the years after his assassination, documents would reveal that the purpose of Gustav's war was for to spur domestic favour his way and not in the interests of the Swedish nation). The Riksdag would not tolerate Gustav III's blatant descent into despotism, to which an outraged Gustav cried:
"You will make slaves of us all!"
Gustav's efforts for war had been all but vanquished and despite lobbying by Prussia, Great Britain and the Dutch Republic, the King would bend to internal pressure. Following the Liljehorn Conspiracy, a wave of liberal reforms had been planned by the King (which were planned by the King so that he could bend popular opinion to his side). It is here that the Venture of William Bolts and the Swedish Colonisation of Australia begin....
...In September of 1787, William Bolts was contacted again by the Swedish authorities for the express purpose of the colonisation effort to Nuyts Land. Gustav III sent his apologies for dismissal and requested, respectfully, to return to the service of the King and to lead the colonisation effort to Nuyts Land and expressed that his anomity will be kept with the highest of efforts. Bolts, who as explained prior was dismissed from service by the same authorities who wished his return, was reluctant to take up the offer from the Swedish Crown despite having very few ventures to turn to. Being in a large amount of debt and tiring of Antwerp, Bolts accepted on the condition of overviewing the preparations of the colonisation efforts and residency in Gothenburg until the departure of the colonists....
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Boltsholmers celebrate 224th year of Founding
Sydney Morning Herald
7th of August, 2013
Two hundred and forty four years ago, while Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet were setting up their colony in New South Wales, a small Swedish fleet led by William Bolts arrived on Rottnest Island, claiming the Island for Sweden and King Gustav III before resettling on the banks of the Swan River a week later, where Boltsholm resides today. Every 7th of August, residents of the city come out to celebrate with a festival, Swedish parade and evening firworks. Boltsholm was the capital of Swedish New Holland, declared a Free City by King Gustav III of Sweden and would serve as a valuable trading port for Europeans arriving in the South Pacific and traders from the East Indies before becoming a territory of Great Britain.
But despite having lost their tie to Sweden, the British authorities allowed the residences of Swedish New Holland a reasonable level of autonomy, which included the right to celebrate all prior festivities, included in that was Bolts Day. But the interpretation of Bolts Day has seemed to change as the years come around. Some of the largest areas of the city who celebrate are, ironically, the Dutch and Afrikaner communities that reside in the city.
"We like to use the day to remind ourselves of where come from" explains Frederik van Bruen, the community organiser for the Dutch Quarter's Bolts Day celebrations "We like to look at it differently than Australia Day, because many in the community like to see Australia Day as a way of reminding ourselves that we live in Australia and that we are all united by that bond [of being Australian] but to see Bolts Day as a reminder of where our families came from, of our heritage. I love Bolts Day, most of the community loves Bolts Day and we celebrate with as much energy as we can." However, van Bruen does have one complaint about the day that his community loves so much:
"The secessionist movement love using today as a way of crowbarring their agenda down ordinary peoples throats without respecting other peoples' opinion, I find it quite annoying."
With another referendum set for July, 2014, many within the secessionist movement see today as a way of showing their true colours, trying to rile up the city as well as most of the State to vote for secession. A rally to be held by Mathias Johannsen, the Mayor of Boltsholm and staunch secessionist, is suspected to draw as many as fifty thousand attendants. But while the fervour of seccessionist ideals flow during the day, many just wait to see the spectacular fireworks display over the Swan River, the piece de resistance of Bolts Day, as replicas of the three original ships sail through the harbour, as the past salutes the present.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
TIMELINE COMING SOON
------------------------------------------------
Description: The Legacy of Bolts (if successful enough) will follow the history of Swedish-led colonisation of Western Australia from 1789 to modern day. As the thread grows, you'll find the posts more enriching with detail, full of battles, intrigue and exploration. Learn of the fate of William Bolts, the moment when Swedish New Holland becomes British, the rise of the Svenskaustralier Separatiströrelsen
Author's Note: As of now, there are many many many details that I am without knowledge of (like when Britain gets Boltsholm, what the hell to call the Swedish part of Australia) so do bare with me along the way. I hope to write titanic posts that are worthy of this venture. I am happy to take criticism and any suggestions from the AH community.
- Lord General Mihalic