The Invasion of 1812, A Northumbrian Survival Timeline

[RodentRevolution]

Well damn the King squashes French élan

Probably quite sensible, unless France has been considerably reduced in this timeline she has around thirty million people and massive agricultural resources. Keep her armies' supply lines short and she can literally stand off the whole of Europe.

As you've shown fortresses were a tough nut to crack.

Liking this a lot

 

[clem attlee]

Well damn the King squashes French élan

Probably quite sensible, unless France has been considerably reduced in this timeline she has around thirty million people and massive agricultural resources. Keep her armies' supply lines short and she can literally stand off the whole of Europe.

As you've shown fortresses were a tough nut to crack.

Liking this a lot

France does indeed have those resources. I have no overall sense of the war yet, but have sketched out various possibilities above. Philip VI's position is by no means secure. Most updates in the near future will concern the Latin War, as it is soon dubbed.

 

[clem attlee]

[FONT=&quot]22nd May 1814, Pau[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Philip VI had marched to the relief of Pau as part of his initial counter-offensive against Spain. News of the victory at Alessandria had heartened him greatly. He brought his army up to the Spanish army with great speed, catching them off guard. His daring assault threw the Spanish back and a strong left column punched through their army. They were forced back from the fortress and lost their siege train. The Duke of Cartagena retreated with 47,000 men. Philip VI suffered only three thousand casualties. The king followed the Spanish, intending to keep them off guard. He treated his prisoners humanely. Within days, he received reports of the invasion of the third Spanish army under the Duke of Valencia, 60,000 men, and a rising of the peasantry near Montpellier. He detached a division under Talleyrand to deal with the revolt and continued to pursue Cartagena.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]28th May 1814, Oloron[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Cartagena turned at Oloron and fought a three day pitched battle with Philip VI which resulted in a stalemate. The Spanish were able to reinforce the fort due to the dogged courage of their infantry. They then retreated towards the Pyrenees in order to hold the passes. Philip VI was unable to break the enemy army as he had intended. He left a corps to invest Oloron before marching on Bayonne to relieve the beleaguered garrison there. The king was running out of time. [/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

The Battle of Bayonne

[FONT=&quot]8th June 1814, Bayonne[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Philip VI arrived unexpectedly before Bayonne and caught the Count of San Sebastian in a vise between his troops and the fortress. He crushed the Spanish army in stubborn and costly fighting which left over half of the enemy dead or wounded and most of the rest, including their commander, prisoners. Only 5,000 men escaped the trap to retreat towards Spain. After resting his army for four days, Philip marched back to Oloron. By the time of his arrival on 22nd, the fortress was in French hands once again. He rested his forces for a week, placed a garrison of four thousand men in the fortress and marched on the Duke of Valencia’s army. [/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

La Victoire est a nous

[FONT=&quot]5th August 1814, Perpignan[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
The third Spanish army was stuck besieging yet another French fortress at Perpignan. The Duke of Valencia though was aware of the approach of the French Army of the South. He had hoped to break through to support the rebels in Languedoc, but could not reduce the well-engineered fortress swiftly. Talleyrand though was at least having a difficult time pacifying the area after the main peasant force dissolved itself. The Spanish grandee was also aware of the fate of his fellow commanders of the invading armies against the French king. He left three thousand soldiers to continue the investment of Perpignan and marched to intercept the French on more favourable ground.

7th August 1814, Battle of Opoul:

The forces facing each other were roughly equal. Philip VI attempted to trap the Spanish into being enveloped through a conspicuously weak centre. He sent a small force of cavalry towards the uplands at Perelles to kick up the dust and give the impression of an outflanking movement. The Duke of Valencia took the bait and made a strong probe on the centre. It began to retreat and show signs of disorder. The less disciplined Spanish forces rushed forward to break the enemy, but soon found themselves pressed by strong forces emerging from the vineyards on the flanks. Finally, the French Hussars overwhelmed their opposing forces and closed the trap on the Spanish. The hot, dusty afternoon saw a great slaughter of the panicked Spaniards. In the end, Valencia and half his men lay dead and the rest were prisoners. Philip VI had won another great victory and saved his kingdom. The Spanish force investing Perpignan, warned by the few stragglers who escaped, retreated rapidly back to the Pyrenees. By the end of the month, the French were besieging Girona in Catalonia and threatening Barcelona.

September 1814, Treaty of Barcelona:

Philip VI knew that France could not afford a sustained war with all of its expense and uncertainties. He had proven his military reputation once again and defended his kingdom with great ability. He sent a Spanish general with a message offering peace to Ferdinand X. The Spanish king was coldly furious, but could not sensibly fight on. Two of his three armies were destroyed and he had already been relying on mercenaries. French strength was scarcely impaired by the year’s campaign. To continue was to risk losing Catalonia. No, though it might be a great loss of face, the Spanish must make peace. Philip asked for no territory, but demanded recognition of his dynasty and a payment for the forty thousand prisoners of war. The Spanish agreed though Ferdinand would not give up his dream of revenge. The League of the North was now badly outnumbered, but doggedly refused to make peace.

 

[clem attlee]

South Anglia

1814 in South Anglia:

10th April 1814, Easter Day, Salisbury:

Archbishop Edgar had been locked out of the cathedral for a year now. Dean Grantley took every opportunity to fulminate against dangerous radicals, glib demagogues and godless destroyers of tradition from its pulpit. He snubbed the Archbishop publicly and rumours circulated about illicit affairs, secret rites and secret misappropriation of funds. For several months, the Archbishop faced embarrassed looks, furtive evasions and a lack of welcome from many parishes, especially but not only in the more prosperous parishes. But Edgar kept his counsel and went on with the rebuilding for the poor and visiting parishes. On Easter Sunday, he celebrated open air masses in the unseasonably fine weather, preaching on themes of love, charity, forgiveness and hope. The effect was great and the tide began to turn. People responded to his message and many to his obvious integrity.

1st July 1814, Bristol:

The legal commission had finally collected the laws, weeded out the obsolete statutes and reconciled the ecclesiastical with the secular. The result was an impressive work of scholarship and a great aid for lawyers and the judiciary. The recommendations on the judiciary, however, caused deep anxiety and opposition among the clergy of Wells. For the commission proposed that all courts be secular and that the old jurisdictions of ecclesiastical courts be abolished. They feared, quite sincerely, that it would mean the end of effective religious sanction and that crime and chaos would naturally follow. The debate persisted throughout the summer months until Edward XIV suggested a compromise: that secular courts remain the sole arbitre of the law, but that priests might be named judges. He proposed that he establish a commission to appoint the judiciary. The chief executive of Somerset would make later appointments. In the end, the Bishop acceded though very reluctantly and with great apprehensiveness for the future. The last impediment to Union had been removed. On 1st October, the Bishop’s council and the Patricians of Bristol both voted to dissolve their states to be reconstituted as Somerset as of 1st January 1815.

15th August 1814, Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Salisbury Cathedral Close:

Archbishop Edgar led the procession of humble clergy and monks to the gate of the Cathedral Close. Dean Grantley tried to prevent his entry, but was forced by practicality to allow worshippers to attend the major feast at the cathedral. A band of stalwart vergers stood ready to block the Archbishop’s entry. But, the Archbishop led his band to the lawns and set up a simple table as an altar. He began to celebrate a long Mass. He attracted a congregation double that of the cathedral. A group of officers approached the crowd and slowly made their way through it. A buzz of apprehension grew. Finally, they reached the front of the crowd and humbly made obeisance before the cross. An old man in blue stepped from their midst and knelt reverently in prayer. The arrival of the septuagenarian Edward XIV at the Archbishop’s Mass created a great stir. Rumour penetrated the cathedral which was soon almost deserted as the flock joined the growing throng outside. In the end, eighty thousand souls took communion in the close that day and watched as the king asked for and received the Archbishop’s personal blessing.

24th September 1814, Chapter House, Salisbury:

Archbishop Edgar finally gained access to the cathedral as the Chapter voted to censure Dean Grantley. Services had been very sparsely attended for over a month. The Archbishop was cheered in the streets and his Masses overflowed. Grantley refused to resign though and clung to the remnants of his authority, carping, blocking and undermining as best he could. Edgar was too wise to pay him heed. He had won the battle for hearts and minds.

1st December 1814, Somerset Elections:

Lord Tribune Cripps led a party of merchants devoted to commerce and its increase. Osmund Hayter led a party of country gentlemen which sought to maintain traditional ways. There were also a large number of independents. There was no clerical party.

Liberal (Cripps): 17 seats.

Independents: 9 seats.

Country (Hayter): 4 seats.

Cripps maintained his hegemonic position, largely because of his effective efforts to rebuild the city. Several of his candidates just beat independents in Wells. So, Somerset was born as a new state in 1815. Bristol was its capital.

 

[perdu42]

Have enjoyed reading the France vs Spain/League of the North War (have the historians given it a more catchy name?) but it's good to see an Anglian update.

 

[clem attlee]

Have enjoyed reading the France vs Spain/League of the North War (have the historians given it a more catchy name?) but it's good to see an Anglian update.

The Latin War (Spanish, French, Italians).

I'm trying to show in the Anglian sections how very difficult it would be to unite even a few states with a strong history of independence and different institutions, let alone the whole country.

Thanks for the ongoing support. Comments help to motivate me.

 

[clem attlee]

1815

[FONT=&quot]15th April 1815, Vercelli[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The League of the North once again invaded French Savoy. They took an army of eighty thousand men. The Duke of Turin opposed them with seventy thousand. The two forces met in battle at Vercelli and Turin enveloped his foe through a ruse. The army of the League was smashed. Thousands were taken prisoner. Philip VI had northern Italy at his feet, but chose to be moderate in victory, taking only a ransom for captured prisoners. Peace was ratified at Milan in May. France had survived her great crisis. Philip VI won a reputation for moderation and French troops had behaved, under very strict orders, with notable restraint. The continent settled down to a period of peace. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]November 1815, South Anglia[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Edward XIV kept his word and stayed as king in South Anglia for only three years. The folk were grateful for his help, but wanted to return to their independent ways. In Mid November, the king took his detachment of the Royal Guard and, accompanied by his devoted Murray, rode northwards on the long journey through Mercia to York. He sojourned for a while at Lichfield with Offa XVIII, but arrived back in York in time for Christmas. South Anglia had begun to recover from the devastating French invasion. Somerset was prospering and growing once again at a rapid rate. Bristol had fine new streets and plumbing and solid houses enough for the surviving population. There were fewer scars of war visible than in the rest of South Anglia. Salisbury had rebuilt much of the devastation and was enjoying a great spiritual revival under its Prince-Archbishop. Winchester alone lagged. Its churches were renewed, but many poor folk still lived in lean-tos despite the king’s best efforts to improve their lot. Clerical intransigence was not to be moved. But new ships guarded the Channel and Anglia was beginning to feel safe again after her horrifying ordeal three years earlier.[/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

[FONT=&quot]January 1816, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Edward XIV had left his capital nearly four years earlier. His hair was wholly white now and his person, if anything, leaner at the age of 72. But his eyes still twinkled and especially now as he rode through the streets to the wild acclaim of his loyal subjects. Northumbria had survived its worst crisis in a millennium and was now clearly the foremost realm in the islands. The king had defended Anglia’s shores, defeated a most dangerous foe and brought great prosperity and prestige to the land and its folk. They cheered him for it and welcomed him home on a bright, but frigid day. Edward turned and smiled at the ubiquitous Murray riding two paces back to his left. It was good to be back.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After his usual frugal supper, Edward sat with his son before the fire. They talked for several hours about the realm’s progress since the king’s departure. The Prince Regent had extended construction of water and sewage systems through many of the cities now and was well under way with the expansion of the armed forces. Industry was booming and the textiles had begun to mechanise. There was some protest from hand weavers, but efforts were being made to ease their difficulties. Sir Leonard Hardy had finally retired before the last election and given way to Sir Quintus Green. His Progressives had won the Sept 1815 election:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Progressives: 48 seats.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Land League: 22 seats.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Independents: 10 seats.[/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

Old pursuits and a dilemma

[FONT=&quot]Edward XIV was content to rest a little and allow his son to assume his formal duties. He resumed the interrupted work on the St Peter’s University at York. His share of the French loot from victorious battles went wholly to adorning the colleges. He smiled as he contemplated how proud his father would have been of the light stucco work. No expense was to be spared. The university would accept its first undergraduates in Michaelmas term 1817. The king’s only other concern was for his son to marry and produce an heir. They spoke of the matter throughout the year, but Prince Edward seemed strangely reluctant. It wasn’t as though he mostly liked men, as did Edward, but he had no enthusiasm for matrimony or its blessings. Finally, the Prince spoke of his concerns and his desires to his royal father. Edward, wise with age and experience and happy in his own private life, finally began to understand his son. All those quarrels about him going to Salisbury had foundered on the king’s concern for his unusually deep piety and the inflexible necessity of his royal role. Clearly, the matter needed further thought. [/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

Drawing close to the end now, but feel as though I am running out of steam.

 

[RodentRevolution]

Drawing close to the end now, but feel as though I am running out of steam.

Perfectly normal, endings are killers. The way I get through to the end of a bit of creative writing is tell myself stories only live if they are read and they are more likely to be read if you end them.

 

[clem attlee]

Perfectly normal, endings are killers. The way I get through to the end of a bit of creative writing is tell myself stories only live if they are read and they are more likely to be read if you end them.

Thanks, mate. I normally write on evenings and early mornings. Constant writing of new lectures for my Byzantine class and general fatigue had wrung me dry over the last few days. Fortunately, I feel more rested this morning and Klio has smiled on me again.

 

[clem attlee]

La Belle France

[FONT=&quot]June 1816, Paris[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Philip VI reformed the French tax code to remove the exemptions for clergy and nobility. The measure caused great hostility among those groups, but relieved some of the pressure on the peasantry and the bourgeoisie. It also increased the amount that could be repaid to the Frisian loans. The king also reduced much of the court ritual which centred around his person. There were no immediate risings, but discontent grew among the elite. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]October 1816, Toledo[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ferdinand X met with the Count of Auxerre privately. The French nobleman had been hastened towards ruin and bankruptcy by the recent tax changes. His profligacy had caught up with him at last. Now he offered his services to the Spanish king in return for gold. He was a desperate man and deeply imbued both with anger and recklessness. Ferdinand smiled with cold calculation as he parted from his instrument of vengeance. Though his armies failed this degenerate would serve his purpose. No one thwarted the Spanish king. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]November 1816, Paris[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Count of Limousin laid out his plans before the king. If France could not expand within Europe, then she should seek economic gain abroad. It was time to expand the navy again and to acquire some colonies. He proposed two trading colonies in [FONT=&quot]Vinland[/FONT], one in the hotter middle coast, the other further north. In addition, he sketched out long-term plans to attack the Berber Caliphate and to descend on the wealthy West African coast. Philip VI was delighted. It would involve considerable initial costs, but many fewer risks than a European War. It would also reassure his continental neighbours. He gave his consent that day. [/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

A bride?

[FONT=&quot]March 1817, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Prince Edward entered his father’s Spartan study with anticipation. He sensed that the matter was important. Edward XIV rose as his son entered and smiled at him.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Edward, my boy, I have a suggestion for you.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Yes, father. About what?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Your possible bride. You are almost twenty-nine and the succession must be secured. I am not getting any younger.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Prince nodded, steeled himself and waited.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Well, it seems to me that we must choose a young woman of strong as well as of excellent character. These qualities, of course, are hard to discern and so I have taken some time to observe and reflect.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“But, father, you have not left Northumbria since your return from South Anglia.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“That’s right, my dear fellow. If you are to have a Queen Regent when you have sired children then she must be Northumbrian. A foreign princess would leave the realm open to foreign interference and would besides have more difficulty in exerting control.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Yes, I see. But the girl must be an aristocrat to be accepted. Whom does that leave?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“You are quite right that there are few suitable candidates. I was luckier than you can imagine with your mother, but I see no one comparable in the families of the Earls. So, I looked to the Barons. We need someone who will respect the Parliament and so that limits us to Progressives. I would like also to strengthen the line’s Brythonic blood.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Edward closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had dreaded hearing that it would be one of the pushful Dalkeith girls. They were all so boisterous. But wait, the Dalkeiths were no longer Barons! Had his father forgotten?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Unfortunately, there are few Barons in Brythonic areas and I didn’t think that Aethelfleda Dalkeith would suit you. Yes, my son, I guessed. So, we must look a little lower yet and create a new title for the girl’s father. You may recall Lt General Sir Mungo Eamont who showed such tenacity at Falkirk against the long lads. He belongs to an old Cumbric family which has produced generations of knights and soldiers. They have rarely been courtiers though and so you probably haven’t met his family. He has two sons, both of whom serve in the army, and two daughters. The younger, Angharad, is twenty-two, as yet unmarried and very pretty, as you can see from this miniature her father commissioned at my request. She has shown relatively little interest in men, but is active in good deeds and charity and has, I believe a great deal of latent strength. Her father is bringing her to York in order to witness his promotion. I have decided to make him Baron Yanwath you see.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Edward nodded thoughtfully. “Well, father, if you wish me to meet the girl, I will do so. You paint an admirable portrait.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Good. Thank you, my son. We will hold a celebratory banquet for the Baron on Saturday week.”[/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

Death of a Prince

[FONT=&quot]April 1817, Tuileries Palace, Paris[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Count of Auxerre edged closer to the front of the crowd watching the parade. Any minute now! Yes, there was the king. He pushed his way to the front and saw that Philip VI had the Dauphin riding before him on the horse. How fortunate! All of a sudden, several officers darted forward and shot at the king. He shot blood spout and the horse go down. Excellent! He drew sword and darted forward to yell “Down with the traitors. Down with Montmorency! The crowd jostled and there was confusion until Major-General Talleyrand rode forward with officers at his back and cut down the assassins. The crowd broke up and ran in all directions. Auxerre dropped his sword and ran with them. He did not see Philip VI pulled out from under his dead mount with a broken leg and two flesh wounds. Nor did he see the corpse of Prince Robert, the Dauphin of France, carried tenderly back to the palace. He just ran on and on in panic. At last, he reached the cheap brothel he had always frequented and sought refuge with Lisette. Two days later, officers of the Royal Guard dragged him from his hiding place and chained him. He was flogged through the streets to the Tuileries. The good bourgeois of the city pelted him with whatever came to hand and shouted for the death of the assassin. He was bloodied and stinking from refuse and his own excrement when they took him to the barracks. It took days to beat the truth out of him, but, in the end, he revealed his paymaster. The king put him on trial and he was found guilty and hanged with a silken rope. The Spanish ambassador was expelled and all diplomatic ties cut. But Philip VI did not declare war. He did, however, issue Letters of Marque to all who would take Spanish ships. The rebuilding of the Navy was also hastened. Prince Robert was buried at Notre Dame. He was replaced as Dauphin by his younger brother, the seven year old Philip.[/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

Royal wedding

[FONT=&quot]June 1817, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Prince Edward and Lady Angharad Eamont announced their engagement. The wedding would take place in September. Edward was torn between his pleasure at marrying so pretty and fine a woman and his unrelenting desire to serve God as a priest. Lady Angharad was pleasant and affectionate, but quiet. She understood her role well enough and accepted it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]September 1817: Royal Palace, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]It had been a glorious and a popular wedding. The dashing young Prince drove away with his bride, Princess Angharad, to spend six months on the continent travelling, far from the frigid North. Edward XIV smiled and thought of Queen Edith. He hoped that Edward could find such respect and happiness with his bride. He turned to Colonel Godric Murray and kissed him. “Well, sweet man, we are back in the saddle for a while. Time to ease the tensions with the weavers and to attempt one last bout of reforms. God willing, I won’t have lost my touch.” Godric replied, “I make no doubt of your vigour and acuity, my Lord Achilles, but let me aid you as I can.” They breathed in the crisp Autumn air and walked back up the steps to the Palace, their arms encircling each other.[/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

Reform and realignment

[FONT=&quot]Dec 1817: Parliament, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Edward XIV concluded his speech speaking in support of the extension of the franchise. He noted the great success of the Parliament’s work and the maturity of the voters. He spoke of the wider franchise used in Saxon Somerset and the desirability of extending a stake in the community to a wider number. Lastly, he urged them to entrench constitutional monarchy by voting for this measure. The Progressives and some Independents largely supported the bill and it passed with a majority of six. The king at once signed the act into law. Fully a quarter of the population could now vote, half of all adult males. The Act also increased the number of MPs to 120 and parliamentary terms to six years. Sir Quintus Green anticipated a great increase in his parliamentary support rather than the likely loss of the next election.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jan 1818: Home Office, St Helen’s Square, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Home Secretary studied Edward XIV’s memorandum. It was a bold stroke and wholly typical of the king. By providing free universal education until the age of 13, he was bypassing the problem of child labour in private factories. It would also provide a literate and numerate adult workforce. The radical progressives would be delighted. There might be trouble with the wealthier factory owners in parliament though. Well, they would have to be persuaded. The money was there though, given the booming economy. Six years after the French invasion, much of the South was still recovering. Northumbria had industrialised even more rapidly and was challenging East Anglia in textile production. The country dominated in coal, iron and shipbuilding. Population was growing very rapidly too, especially with the cleaner and more sanitary cities. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]February 1818: Parliament, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Education Bill failed to pass by ten votes. It caused a split in the governing party with the radicals under Owain Donaldson, the member for Edinburgh East, defecting to form a new party. They were largely devout Christians formed by the spiritual revival of the early 1800s. While they were themselves prosperous, they sought to extend the benefits of that prosperity to the poor and took inspiration from the Sermon on the Mount. All were strong supporters of Edward XIV. They called themselves the Christian Radicals and were nine in number. Sir Quintus Green had lost his majority, but remained in power due to the support of independents. The Land League took heart at the discomfiture of the government and the split between the king and parliament. They proposed the setting up of rural almshouses to care for the completely destitute. They were to be funded by a new tax on industry. The measure failed to pass by only fourteen votes. Politics had not been so uncertain and exciting since the dawn of the century when the king had finally comprehensively beaten aristocratic opposition. Now the king had outstripped his own government in radicalism. Owain Donaldson proposed new bills to curtail child labour, institute safety measures in factories, extend almshouses to both town and country and set up co-operatives to help struggling artisans and hand weavers. His oratory was heard across the realm and stirred up hope and support amongst the poor. The Progressives were beginning to look tired and stale. They were now a party of grandees and great industrialists and merchants. [/FONT]

 

[clem attlee]

Prince Edmund

[FONT=&quot]April 1818: Royal Palace, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Prince Edward had returned at long last with his bride. Princess Angharad was already pregnant. The Prince hovered around her with anxious solicitude. The child would be due in July. There was great rejoicing throughout the city at the news. Edward XIV promoted his son to Brigadier-General and Rear Admiral in celebration. The lad looked very well, quite relaxed and affectionate with his wife. Perhaps he would lay aside his clerical ambitions now. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18th June 1818: Royal Palace, York[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Edward XIV looked down at his first grandson, Prince Edmund, with deep satisfaction. His heir had produced a new heir of his own. The king smiled as he heard the explosion of fireworks above the city. It was his seventy-fifth birthday as well as the day of the royal birth. Princess Angharad was well, if exhausted. Prince Edward had taken himself off to his prie-dieu to offer prayers of thanksgiving. Yes, this was a day to remember. How little Edward XIV thought he would have reached such calm waters in the grim winter of 1778 when he had returned from Persia to find Northumbria on the verge of rack and ruin. He could not even be sure of his own safety. Well, all of that was past now. It had been immensely hard work over decades, but he had saved the realm and brought it to prosperity. He stepped out onto the balcony to greet the crowd and was greeted by a roar of acclaim. “Vivat! Vivat! Vivat! Floreat Eduardus Magnus!” He waved and grinned his eyes sparkling. [/FONT]