Andermark
07-03-2009, 03:49
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Coronation in Andermark
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The Associated Press
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Anderhaal: Tomorrow, Lord Frederick, Baron von Leitdorf and the Prince-Designate of the Principality of Andermark is expected to formally ascend the Iron Throne and become the seventy-third formal monarch of the nation.
The Principality, which was historically a colonial power, experienced its heyday in the 18th and 19th Centuries, when its Emperors reigned across the entire continent and beyond. Today, however, the disintegration of the nation’s imperial holdings have severely weakened Andermark’s economy, military, and national identity, seemingly sapping the citizenry of much of their national and civic pride. Even in the most respectful and polite circles, Andermark is today acknowledged as backwards at the very least, when it is even remembered at all.
Von Leitdorf, who has been the ruler of the Principality in all but name since mid last year, rose to power through a military coup several months ago. Raised in the lap of luxury, as the eldest son of the late Prince of Andermark, Gustav VI and Crown Baron of the Principality, he eschewed his royal upbringing to pursue a career in the Freikorps, Andermark’s well-recognized austere shock trooper formation.
A unique element within the Border Legion (Andermark’s professional military service), a small force of career soldiers that serves as the little nation’s equivalent to an army, the Free Corps is considered to be an elite formation that has often provided shock troops for the Border Legion’s campaigns. The Corps was founded in 1842 as a way to rid the nation of society’s “less desirable elements” and, indeed today, the Free Corps is still seen in a romantic light as a place where bad men may redeem themselves. In fact, most of its recruits are criminals who have joined up to avoid prosecution, or convicts who have been sentenced to serve in the Corps as punishment for their crime. The Free Corps is legendary for its ability to break these men down and rebuild them, and, in doing so, fostering an extreme sense of esprit de corps and an intense nationalism.
Purportedly, Baron von Leitdorf, as well the Freikorps soldiers under his command and a small cadre of top Andermarker military officials felt that the Baron’s father, Prince Gustav, was further weakening this once-mighty state and seeking to return it to its glory days, stormed Anderhaal Palace and executed His Majesty.
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The Imperial Palace at Anderhaal
Despite the objections of some members of the Imperial Diet loyal to the late Prince Gustav that the Baron Leitdorf’s role in the Prince’s death could disqualify him from the line of succession, Colonel Otto Fehrenbach, a spokesman from the Freikorps confirmed that the Baron would be acceding the Iron Throne tomorrow.
The coronation ceremony, to which delegates and heads of state from around the world have been invited, will take place at the primary royal residence, Anderhaal Palace, nestled neatly within the nation’s capital city. It will begin, reportedly with a short church service, followed by the actual coronation ceremony and the first mounting of the guard to the new Prince, which will then be followed by an official coronation ball.
Karl Pieter von Braunschwieg contributed to this report from Anderhaal, Andermark
Coronation in Andermark
________________________
The Associated Press
________________________
Anderhaal: Tomorrow, Lord Frederick, Baron von Leitdorf and the Prince-Designate of the Principality of Andermark is expected to formally ascend the Iron Throne and become the seventy-third formal monarch of the nation.
The Principality, which was historically a colonial power, experienced its heyday in the 18th and 19th Centuries, when its Emperors reigned across the entire continent and beyond. Today, however, the disintegration of the nation’s imperial holdings have severely weakened Andermark’s economy, military, and national identity, seemingly sapping the citizenry of much of their national and civic pride. Even in the most respectful and polite circles, Andermark is today acknowledged as backwards at the very least, when it is even remembered at all.
Von Leitdorf, who has been the ruler of the Principality in all but name since mid last year, rose to power through a military coup several months ago. Raised in the lap of luxury, as the eldest son of the late Prince of Andermark, Gustav VI and Crown Baron of the Principality, he eschewed his royal upbringing to pursue a career in the Freikorps, Andermark’s well-recognized austere shock trooper formation.
A unique element within the Border Legion (Andermark’s professional military service), a small force of career soldiers that serves as the little nation’s equivalent to an army, the Free Corps is considered to be an elite formation that has often provided shock troops for the Border Legion’s campaigns. The Corps was founded in 1842 as a way to rid the nation of society’s “less desirable elements” and, indeed today, the Free Corps is still seen in a romantic light as a place where bad men may redeem themselves. In fact, most of its recruits are criminals who have joined up to avoid prosecution, or convicts who have been sentenced to serve in the Corps as punishment for their crime. The Free Corps is legendary for its ability to break these men down and rebuild them, and, in doing so, fostering an extreme sense of esprit de corps and an intense nationalism.
Purportedly, Baron von Leitdorf, as well the Freikorps soldiers under his command and a small cadre of top Andermarker military officials felt that the Baron’s father, Prince Gustav, was further weakening this once-mighty state and seeking to return it to its glory days, stormed Anderhaal Palace and executed His Majesty.
http://wire.ggl.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/empire_altdorf_emperorpalac.jpg
The Imperial Palace at Anderhaal
Despite the objections of some members of the Imperial Diet loyal to the late Prince Gustav that the Baron Leitdorf’s role in the Prince’s death could disqualify him from the line of succession, Colonel Otto Fehrenbach, a spokesman from the Freikorps confirmed that the Baron would be acceding the Iron Throne tomorrow.
The coronation ceremony, to which delegates and heads of state from around the world have been invited, will take place at the primary royal residence, Anderhaal Palace, nestled neatly within the nation’s capital city. It will begin, reportedly with a short church service, followed by the actual coronation ceremony and the first mounting of the guard to the new Prince, which will then be followed by an official coronation ball.
Karl Pieter von Braunschwieg contributed to this report from Anderhaal, Andermark