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DW Faction Crown
DW Faction Crown
keeping, and it allowed the lands in France forces proved well able to hold their ground
to be stripped away by resurgent French against the Royalists. Much of England was
sentiments during the Middle Ages. ravaged again as the tide of war rumbled
back and forth across the kingdoms, and at
The greatest historical mistake made by the
sea the two sides fell upon one another in a
Crown occurred during the reign of King
furious contest.
Charles I. Whilst attempting to continue
the process of centralising his own rule, In the end, Cromwell’s death in 1658 whilst
Charles I made the mistake of placing his in the field against Scottish Royalists at the
personal ambitions above the corporate Second Battle of Dunbar was the turning
ambitions of the crown that he was born point of the war. Indeed, as mentioned
to bear. In foisting his own personal rule it is likely his Protectorate would have
on his subjects, Charles precipitated the crumbled without him, even if he had died
greatest crisis in the Crown’s history by during peacetime [Examiner’s Note: An
encouraging bloody rebellion against the interesting hypothesis – not the place to expand
very idea of the British monarchy. it of course]. In the end, a further three
years of bloody campaigning would finally
The ensuing Civil Wars (and there were
place Prince Charles on the throne.
several) tore the kingdom apart and
threatened to permanently end the Crown’s
THE RESTORATION
reign. A republican regime led first by
Parliament, then by radicals in the Army Before his ascension to the throne, Charles
and finally under the personal control of one II was known for his fondness for drink, for
Oliver Cromwell, replaced the monarchy women and for the finer things in life. Upon
in Great Britain and executed King Charles his ascension as King Charles the Restored,
I for treason against his own people. The however, the terrible cost of reclaiming
royal family fled into exile, and the new his inheritance and the shattered state of
Protectorate placed the country under an the kingdoms itself blackened his mood.
unpopular tyranny (although the extent of He has since been dubbed the “Morose
that tyranny has since been exaggerated by Monarch” in popular opinion, but his sober
historians.) [Examiner’s Note: Keep your governmental choices and the policies he
historical asides to yourself in future!] established have set a pattern for Crown
history ever since.
That the exiled monarchy did not simply
wait for the Protectorate to collapse is Charles II acknowledged the mistakes made
something of a mystery, but instead of by his father and vowed never to repeat them
biding his time, Prince Charles duly raised again. Insisting upon a contract or agreement
an army of his own whilst in exile and between the Crown and its favoured subjects
re-invaded his own realm to reclaim the that would ensure popular support for the
throne. The subsequent War of Reconquest monarchy. Only when the Crown and the
was worse than any of the preceding Civil national interests were seen to be one and the
Wars. Under the superb command of an same could the Crown hope to survive in an
ailing Oliver Cromwell the republican uncertain world.
THE BRITISH CROWN v1.01
Under his direction, the Crown massively to replace the medieval plan fought over
expanded its reach in day-to-day affairs in during the Civil Wars.
its domains, with royal officials becoming
Worse still, and still argued by historians, it
vital instruments in even the most benign of
is presumed but not proved that Charles II
transactions and dealings. Nonetheless, a
played a hand in the mysterious death of his
restricted but powerful legislative structure
brother James in 1685. James would have
was put in place to ensure that royal power
succeeded to the throne upon his brother’s
was always tempered by the consent of the
death but was considered dangerous for his
people – at least in a controlled way.
religious beliefs (a Catholic in a Protestant
Indeed, some of Charles II’s darker acts country – religion played a major part in
are those most meaningful for modern the Civil Wars) and political views coloured
observers of the Crown. Under his direction by exile in France and Spain during the
a powerful Royal Navy was built up with the Wars of Restoration. James’ reign would
sole purpose of defending the home islands have been a disaster – or at least so Charles
but also to extent British power abroad. II and his government came to believe –
Colonies established in North America by and he was quietly removed.
exiles fleeing the Civil Wars and religious
Charles II clung on to life and died in 1689
persecution swiftly found themselves
aged 58 – his last few years likely extended
brought back under British control. At
by his strict abstinence compared to the
sea, Charles’ Royal Navy waged a brutal
heady days of his youth. He was succeeded,
campaign against European powers in the
as agreed, by King William III, Prince of
Caribbean, often under the cover of piracy,
Orange and grandson of King Charles I,
to guarantee British wealth. [Examiner’s
nephew to the “Morose Monarch.”
Note: This does not seem like a particular dark
action – perhaps you have omitted reference
RULE BRITANNIA
to the slave trade for fear of your audience’s
sensibilities? Do not do so again - to provide From the experiences of the Middle
accurate intelligence to the Imperium we Ages, the Civil Wars and the Restoration,
must supply all possible facts, no exceptions.] the British Crown learned three
important lessons:
At home, Charles became increasingly
concerned about the defensibility of the 1. The realm needed to be culturally
towns and cities of his own realm. In 1666 homogenous – if not entirely universal, at
a ruthless campaign of clearances and least at the administrative level the methods
deliberate demolition was unleashed on and assumptions of governance had to be
London in order to restore the city to glory the same.
– to make it a fitting capital for a restored 2. The realm needed to identify its interests
monarchy. With the support of the major with the needs of the Crown – or else the
aristocrats and merchant houses of the Crown would fall.
land, Charles II rebuilt London into the
brooding city it is today for the sole purpose 3. The realm needed to be well-defended –
of creating a modernised defensive capital or outside threats would dismantle it swiftly
and without mercy.
v1.01 THE BRITISH CROWN
Dominions the events of 1776 are referred This concern soon gave way to fears of
to as the Great Rebellion. Much blood and Prussian dominance. With the entire
treasure were spent attempting to crush continent of Europe transformed into
the American rebels, and even today the a single armed camp, the British Isles’
suspicion and mistrust bred by the conflict safety could no longer be guaranteed, and
remains strong. the very heartland of the Crown would
be under permanent threat. Whilst I have
The experience of the Great Rebellion also
been unable to confirm whether British
hardened British attitudes to the rest of the
fears of a Prussian invasion were well-
world. The intervention of France during
founded the threat was sufficiently real
the war on the side of the rebels soured the
enough to provoke the Crown into action.
Crown’s relations with foreign powers of
[Examiner’s Note: All files from the period
all kinds. The fear that other power’s might
remain sealed by Teutonic instruction.]
intervene in its affairs at the cost of wealth,
lives and influence led to a fourth principle: The British declaration of war in 1813
certainly took the early Imperium by
4. The realm shall not tolerate an equal
surprise, concentrating as it was on the
– no power beyond the Dominions of the
final defeat of the French Republic and the
British Crown may lay claim to power or
strategic disaster unfolding in the east. The
wealth sufficient to challenge the might of
flank march undertaken by the Duke of
the Crown.
Wellington, who remains a national hero,
that led to the Battle of Waterloo is rightly
THE PRUSSIAN WARS
studied still at their Sandhurst Academy
The fourth principle has governed all and at our own War College in Berlin.
of Crown’s actions since the loss of their Nonetheless, it is a perfect illustration
American territories. British naval power of the British mindset: a short, limited
was extended across the globe to strangle campaign to achieve maximum strategic
foreign trade and force subservience on impact, destabilising the foe and preventing
other mercantile powers. All claims of them from achieving victory.
creating a “Pax Britannica” on behalf of
all nations was nothing but propaganda to PERFIDIOUS ALBION
cover blatant imperialist aggression.
A sweeping overview of British policy
Under the influence of their newfound since the Prussian Wars will reveal the
determination to brook no challenge, the same pattern repeating itself over again.
British government paid far more attention A potential threat to Crown dominance
than usual to the affairs of the European is identified, and the opportune moment
powers in the 19th Century. The rise of taken to strike and destabilise the threat
Napoleon was of great concern to the before it becomes too powerful to resist.
Crown, especially given the close links
Over the last fifty years or so British military
between Revolutionary France and the
power has been brought to bear against
former American colonies.
almost every major power and many smaller
ones to preserve its military pre-eminence.
v1.01 THE BRITISH CROWN
British leaders are unwilling to truly Unfortunately, the Knights have several
concede that maintaining the Pax “secret weapons” that make them dangerous
Britannica in this new world has become enemies. Firstly, the vast majority of British
next to impossible. At the current rate of public support the Knights and have done
industrial and military growth, the Union for many years. That blind assumption of
of Federated American States will outstrip superiority, now innate to the subject of the
the British economy by the 1890s. (Our Crown ensures that the Knights’ policies
own industrial output is already at 87% that play well in the occasional elections
of the British.) Within a scant decade, even throughout the Dominions. It also means
the Latin Alliance will be able to claim that that the Knights can mobilise mass support
its navy is at a ratio of 1:3 with the Royal when needed, potentially overcoming the
Navy the Crown cares so much about. manpower intensive problems inherent to
[Examiner’s Note: These statistics are out of the Crown’s military.
date and require citation. Please revise before
Secondly, the Knights’ own assumptions
final submission.]
of superiority means they are more willing
to provoke an early confrontation with
LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY
a foreign enemy; assured of their own
The reality is that after decades of playing preparedness to defeat an enemy, the
one enemy against the other, the Crown Knights may well end up impetuously
cannot afford to provoke the general charging into a war they have little hope of
war that would be required to maintain winning. And yet, in doing so they may also
its position. Nonetheless, the British prove themselves right – by confronting
Dominions remain a formidable foe – one its enemies now the Crown may yet buy
backed into a corner and prepared to fight itself some time to achieve victory, before
to the last to preserve its gains. its foes have become too technologically,
industrially or militarily advanced.
This explains the present political situation
[Examiner’s Note: Interesting point –
in the British Dominions. The current
encouraging the Knights too much may lead to
prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli, is leader
a confrontation with the Crown that we are
of a faction in the House of Commons
not yet ready for. Even now there are officers
known colloquially as the “Knights”. The
in the Imperial Prussian Navy who consider
Knights are believers in the power and
open confrontation with the Royal Navy a
glory of the Crown’s Dominions and are
poor strategy for much the same reason.]
willing to risk much in defending it. They
are fundamentally opposed, in principle, In short, the Knights may end up creating
to most major reforms of the Dominions the circumstances for the very reforms
and are (especially amongst reactionaries) they love to despise. By uniting the British
unwilling to consider that it has any flaws. public behind their “Britannic Glory”
For our purposes, the maintenance of rhetoric they will tap into the greatest
the Knight government would be most resource the Crown has – its people.
beneficial in terms of policy. Stubborn and yet ingenious under pressure,
those same people will be galvanised by the
v1.01 THE BRITISH CROWN
Knights’ patriotism to innovate, improve Flying Corps and Army into three “fleets”.
and develop. In the end, the Knights own The rank structure was made uniform across
conservative instincts may actually unleash the three services, and clear lines of seniority
forces they cannot truly control. established. The practice of buying and
selling commissions was abolished above
FORTRESS BRITANNIA a certain grade, and military recruitment
was opened to individuals throughout the
The Knights’ pre-eminence at the moment
Crown’s territories. The Dominion Reform
rests on their mass support, but if they suffer
was even more alarming – the colonial
another misadventure like Korea, Disraeli’s
administrations of Canada, South Africa and
government is unlikely to survive for much
India were all recognised as legitimate semi-
longer. Much like their masters, the British
autonomous authorities, with their own
voter is a stubborn and mercurial beast,
independent administrations and militaries,
quick to change his or her opinions and
albeit under a certain element of central
often likely to vote against a motion merely
direction. Only a foolish attempt to expand
because they felt their support had been
the reforms to fractious Ireland brought
taken for granted.
Gladstone’s project to a screeching halt.
Enter William Gladstone, leader of the
Luckily, the British public at the moment
Rooks. Unlike their opponents, the Rooks
considers Gladstone and his colleagues
believe that the Crown would be best served
as naysayers and doom-mongers; more
by a period of withdrawal and consolidation
interested in “talking the Crown and her
rather than ineffectual defiance and bluster.
Dominions down” than in truly attempting
Only by harnessing the forces of new
to fix its problems. As previously stated,
technology, and the varied cultures and
however, this could change if the
peoples of the Crown’s Dominions, can it
Knights are unable to deliver on the
hope to survive in this new and modern age.
fiction of Crown superiority indefinitely.
This philosophy makes the Rooks [Examiner’s Note: An excellent summary
dangerous in the long term, as given free of the dangers the Rooks pose in the long term.
reign over British government would see However, even in Opposition they could
root-and-branch reform that would cut prove damaging. The British government
out a lot of the dead wood throughout has in the past shown a willingness to adjust
both the administration and the military course on the fly, poaching popular policies
of the Crown – and lead to a dangerous from other quarters if necessary. How
revitalisation of its capability in the flexible are the Knights in their patriotic
long term. Of course, such things can be insistence that nothing should change?]
overstated, but the danger presented by
Gladstone’s reformist zeal is all too clear. TEMPLARS OF THE CROWN
As a case in point, the last Rook The Rooks will need to be watched
administration reformed wholesale the carefully, especially if they achieve power
Crown’s military according to the “Three in the near future. Another aberration,
Armadas” Review – which centralised and however, deserves our total attention. An
then standardised the Royal Navy, Royal institution dedicated solely to the service of
THE BRITISH CROWN v1.01
the Crown, the Templars are something of greater autonomy for these former colonies.
an oddity worldwide. Exactly how encouraging such radical ideas
defends the Crown is unclear, yet there is
Officially, they are the “Royal Templars
one theory advanced by Professor Herford
of the Round Table”, established or re-
in Vienna. [Examiner’s Note: A crank. None
established by King George III after the
of his papers achieved sufficient peer-reviewed
loss of the American colonies. They claim,
scores to be published. Surely you do not truly
truthfully or not it is impossible to tell,
agree with him?] Herausford posits that the
to be the modern incarnation of a much
Templars take a far longer-term view of the
older institution, whether that is indeed
strategic situation than most. Their ultimate
the Round Table of Arthurian romance
goal is to safeguard the Crown, not preserve
or something else is unclear. Certainly,
the British Dominions in its current form. In
its members are officially knighted by the
truth, their strategy may involve killing the
reigning monarch and its symbolism is
Crown in order to save it.
replete with esoteric meaning. It is unclear
what, if any, relation they have with the Nonetheless, the Templars remain a silent
Knights Templar of Medieval Europe, but committed presence in British daily
although the similarities are there. life. Many charities working with the
poor and invalid within the Crown’s cities
Unlike the Teutonic Knights, however,
rely on donations sourced from Templar
the Templars make no effort to directly
funds (if indirectly channelled via other
rule their people and instead seem
religious institutions or secular concerns).
to be dedicated quite selflessly to the
It should be noted that the Templars also
preservation and reform of the Crown to
commit military forces to battle as well.
make it stronger. [Examiner’s Note: Are
These units were once more likely to be
you suggesting that the Teutonic Knights are
support based than frontline combatants,
not selflessly dedicated to the preservation and
often medical support units or rear-echelon
reform of the Imperium?] The Templars
troops working to serve the rank-and-file
sponsor political groups affiliated with
of the British Land Fleet. Recently, more
both the Knights and the Rooks, fund
dedicated combat troops have appeared
technological research councils and
bearing the blazon of the “Order of St.
academic committees. So-called “think-
John”, believed to come from the Templar
tanks” associated with the Templars have
fortress on Malta. Such units are often
been behind many of the greatest reforms
fast and deadly, using speed and shield
and innovations in British life in the past
technology to defend themselves and shelter
century – yet the Templars themselves take
other Crown forces. It is believed that some
little of the credit, and merely move on to
amongst the Templars are forecasting a
the next problem.
violent confrontation in the near future,
The Templars have established chapters one which will require their own knights
throughout the Crown and have recently to participate in. [Examiner’s Note: Your
been identified as sponsoring movements survey of the Templars is interesting, but I
throughout the Dominions – including fail to see exactly how important this is to our
some organisations that campaign for overall understanding of the Crown’s strategic
v1.01 THE BRITISH CROWN
identity. The Templars are a minor concern, it the time to heal and return stronger than
and in the event of war, Malta will surely fall ever? [Examiner’s Note: Far too heavy on
to the Teutonic Knights as planned.] the metaphors. Nonetheless, a good way of
summarising your appraisal – even if it is too
IN CONCLUSION florid for my tastes.]
The British Crown and her Dominions are a Final Examiners Remarks: A strong essay
study in contradictions: all at once it is both that summarises and identifies the main
strong and weak, advancing and retreating, themes in Crown history well. You draw
globally powerful and yet also unable to some excellent strategic and political
dictate terms. This tension at the heart commentary out of the historical details
of the Crown becomes more pronounced and provide a good overview of the modern
with every passing year as its foes grow political realities as well. Dwelling on
stronger and more emboldened and as its the Templars is unnecessary, they are
leaders become more aware that their old a romanticised curio, not a genuine
certainties and prejudices no longer apply. institution whatever the similarities to the
Teutonic Knights. Your description of
Yet at the same time, that tension provides
“secret weapons” of the Knights and your
a great reserve of strength, like galvanic
final summary (metaphors aside) are stand-
energy stored in a battery or a tank of
out pieces of analysis – the Crown is both
RJ-1027. Whilst a careful pinprick might
ready to fall and yet also still a terrifying
cause the contents to leak out in a dull fizz
foe we cannot be certain of beating yet.
or with a limp gurgle, it may also trigger
an explosive reaction that would consume Moderated Score – 77
those foolish enough to get close.
My dear Oberst,
This leaves us with difficult choices to make.
Thank you for directing this young man to
The British Crown and her Dominions are
my attention. Regrettably he will no longer
like a wounded lion, pitiable in its agony
be attending your classes in the future. Rest
and yet still possessed of great and terrible
assured, however, that his brilliant mind will
strength. Do we provoke it? Walking into
be of service to the Imperium in a different
the proverbial lion’s den as Daniel did of
capacity. Nil Obstet.
old? Will it lie down and accept the end or
savage us with all the ferocity of a master General-Feldmarschall Storck
predator? Or do we stay at a distance and
Knight Commander of the Luminary Rite
let its strength ebb away and risk allowing