Italia News 1916 & 1917

[Guinness]

TR will be there. I believe the French intend for him to ride an airship there, but I rather expect that instead we'll dispatch him aboard CSS New Mexico from Norfolk.

[Valles]

His Majesty Yuuno I expresses both his personal condolences to His Imperial Majesty's family and his nation's to the Italian people in this hour of shadow. If there is anything that may be done to aid or give comfort, he begs that the Italians not hesitate to call upon him and his for it.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Kingdom of Greater Bavaria sends its condolences on the passing of the Emperor. It is a sad day for Italia, and for Europe.

King Lugwig III, Grand Duke Frederick Augustus III,  The Duke of Friuli, and Crown Prince Rupprecht will attend.

[ctwaterman]

May 6th, 1916.

Office of Spurius Valerius Maximus  Rome.   The Consul Maximus was waiting patiently while his aids prepared his robes of office for the upcoming session of the Imperial Senate that was scheduled to meet in just a few hours.  He was dressed sedately and was wearing the Black Armband in mourning for his Emperor.   He was slowly re-reading a most urgent telegram from East Africa.

May 5th, 1916
From: Titus Baia Quintillus Magistrate of Italia East Africa.
To:  Consul for Military Affairs Spurius Valerius Maximus
       General  Juguratha Mastanbal, Eserecto HQ Rome.
       Admiral Lucius Cornelius Sulla, HQ Imperial Marina Rome.

Sirs,
I telegraph you this urgent warning that I received today.  The Forces of New Zion have begun an immediate call up of all active duty soldiers and are either implementing a partial or full mobilization of all their reserves.  I am informing you that on my authority I have implemented the stand bye orders for all active units in East Africa to go to full mobilization and alert stats.  I am also placing all reserve units on immediate heightened alert status.   I am requesting permission to activate war plan Jericho in the advent of continued New Zion mobilization or the approach of substantial New Zion forces to the border in either Burundi or Eritrea. 

Titus Baia Quintillus, Magistrate Italia East Africa.

Maximus frowned upon completing his third reading of the message.  He summoned an aide and began to dictate a reply.

May 6th, 1916
From: Consul of Military Affairs Spurius Valerius Maximus
To: General Juguratha Mastanbal, Eserecto HQ Rome.
       Admiral Lucius Cornelius Sulla, HQ Imperial Marina Rome.
      Titus Baia Quintillus Magistrate of Italia East Africa.

Bringing all active assigned legions to full readiness approved as a precautionary measure.   Imperative that over inflammatory move of activating War Plan Jericho is not I repeat not approved.   In this time of transition we will not place undue stress or provocation on the infantile and fragile government of New Zion.   If any action is to be taken it will be taken only with the advice and consent of the Senate of Rome.  In addition if any action needs to be taken I foresee such action being the Province of the Confederate States of America, the East Sea Confederation, and the Empire of Japan.  I repeat it is not the position of the Senate of Rome to take and overly provocative stance at this time against the Nation of New Zion no matter what provocations it brings against the Empire.  If New Zion moves more then 1 Corp to either of the borders you are authorized to continue the call up of reserves.

Spurius Valerius Maximus Consul of Military Affairs

Maximus waved the aide on his way.  Have that forwarded to the appropriate offices immediately after it is typed up.   And have a copy brought to back to me I will take it with me to the session of the Senate.

[ctwaterman]

If anyone want to give a Eulogy at the Funeral please type it up soon and send it to me I have to begin compiling the story of the Funeral.

[ctwaterman]

Head Line of the Rome Times May 16th 1916.

Royal Funeral attended by mourning masses of citizens.

His Imperial Majesty Gaius Marius Camila Emperor of all Italia, King of Sardinia, King of Corsica, King of the Two Sicily's, King of Piedmont, King of Lombardy, Duke, Of Parma, Duke, of Modena, Duke of Verona, Duke of Tyrol, and hereditary protector of Papal States had lain in state in the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Latterno here in Rome since his death earlier this month.   Gaius Marius Camila was 72 years old and is survived by Four children Marcus Aquila, Decius Taurus, Claudia Fulvia Aurelia, and Serverina Crescentia Flavia he had 16 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grandchildren at the time of his death.

Crowds numbering in the Tens of thousands have come to the Cathedral every day since the Emperor was lain in state.   From Dawn until well after Dark the somber crowds have slowly come to say goodbye to the Emperor who has ruled them for so long that many have never known another monarch.

The State Funeral was a huge affair with the majority of the crowds kept at a discrete distance due to the attendance of a huge number of foreign dignitaries.  Among those attending was the Emperor of Iberia Jamie I and his heir, along Kaiser Freidrich of the Deutcher Kaiserreich Brandenburg,  King Ludwig III of Bavaria and his heir and the Grand Duke of Friuli the Emperors Grandson.  In addition President Theodore Roosevelt of the Confederate States of America and President Alizandro of Grand Columbia were in attendance.  Premier Galapoux represented the Republic of France while a delegation from the East Sea Confederacy consisted of President Silbertand, Foreign Minister Jessen and Herzog Zug Mecklenburg.  A delegation from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was also in attendance.  There were many wreaths and other letters of condolences from the Crowned Heads and Heads of state adorning the Cathedral.

The Funeral Mass was preformed by Cardinal Della Chiesa a close personal friend of the Emperors for many years.   The Choir hidden behind the Altar from the congregation was drawn from conservatories all over Italy and who's singing was exceptional beautiful.

The Eulogy was given by the Emperors' Grandson Armedo Ferdinando Camila.

The Funeral Procession was by a Gilt Funeral carriage drawn by 8 cape-covered horses wound its way slowly through the streets from San Giovanni In Latterano down to the Pantheon amid a sea of onlookers, with flowers and wreaths falling silently on the coffin.   The Martial note was pronounced: thousands of troops headed the procession, and every minute from dawn to dusk a canon boomed out across Rome.
Gaius Marius' aide-de-camp rode in front of the funeral carriage, bearing his sword: behind walked the old charger that he had ridden in Military Parades and Revues.  But Great care was also taken to underline that Gaius Marius had been the embodiment of an entire nation.  The coffin was flanked by the four most senior figures from the Chamber and the Senate, and the cortège included representatives from almost every section of the state and civil society: deputies, senators, prefects, policemen, mayors, town councilors, judges, doctors, engineers, businessmen, landowners, academics, artists, teachers, students, artisans, workers and even Alpine guides.

The Emperor was interred per custom in the Pantheon quietly in a private ceremony attended by family.

[ctwaterman]

The Forum Front Page Rome May 16th 1916:

Royal Eulogy given by Emperors' Grandson:

Your Royal Majesties, Heads of State and other Honored Guests;
I have been asked today to commemorate the life of my beloved Grandfather.  He was a devoted man dedicated to creating a great nation.  When he took the Imperial Thrown of Italia nearly 50 years ago Italia was a growing Empire without a national identity.  We were not citizen of Italia but citizens of Venice, of Piedmont, of Corsica, of what ever state or province we had been born into.  When you asked a person where they were from the answer would undoubtedly have been either the name of his town of village or some place like Sardinia, Parma, or Tyrol one of the Duchies.   My Grandfather dedicated his life to building a state of unity, a feeling of national belonging among the people of the Italia Empire.  When my Grandfather assume the throne from his father so very long ago in his youth the task before him was immense.  Italia was then a mass of small states thrown together by circumstance with decades or millennia of animosity between them.  The thrones of these states may have been unified by marriage under my Great Grandfather but the herculean task of creating a single nation from a small bunch of states was yet to be completed. My Grandfathers efforts have been successful because today that same question where are you from will get you an answer of Italia or the Empire.  My Grandfather would have been very proud of that accomplishment.

Another thing that would have made him proud would be to see all of you gathered here together in peace.  The Empire he always used to say had to stand for peace and stability in Europe because the alternative was unthinkable.  So a peaceful gathering here even to celebrate his life as we mourn his death and passing, that would have made him smile as he is undoubtedly doing looking down on us gathered here today.

[The Rock Doctor]

Good items.

President Alizandro did not provide a eulogy during the service, but was later overheard telling members of the royal family, "We did not always see eye-to-eye, and indeed were sometimes rivals, but it does not diminish my respect for the emperor's stature as a nation-builder and statesman.  The world is less for his passing."

[ctwaterman]

June 15 1916: The Rome Times and the Forum Papers

Head Line:  Roman Senate opens debate on Succession.

Today the Senate of Rome opened the first committee debates in what some are calling a very decisive succession fight.   The three foremost candidates are the Emperor two Sons; Marcus Aquila Camila, Decius Taurus Camila, and the Emperors Grandson Armedo Ferdinando Camila.

While many Senators from Rome and the north appear to be strongly backing Marcus Aquila Senators from the south appear to be strongly backing his brother Decius Taurus.  Armedo Ferdinando name was apparently placed in contention by his Grandfathers request and has support of many of the non aligned Senators and strong supporters of the Imperial Party.

[ctwaterman]

The Forum Rome June 21st 1916.

Unknown Prince locked in tie for Imperial Crown with Uncles.

Rumors from the Senate today confirm a nearly three way deadlock on voting on the issue of Imperial Succession.  For those not full aware it appears that in his will Emperor Gaius Marius appealed to the Senate to appoint as his heir his Grandson Armedo Ferdinando Camila.   Now it has become apparent that while Prince Armedo has been acting in the capacity of official spokesmen for the Emperor for months prior to his hospitalization it is unclear just what his qualifications for the Imperial Crown are.   So we the Editors here at the Forum have taken it upon our selves to compile some information on this little known Prince of the house of Savoy.

The Biography of
Armedo Ferdinando Camila, Prince of Savoy, and Duke of Turin.

Prince Armedo was born in March of 1887 the eldest son of Marcus Aquila Camila Prince of Savoy and Maria Pia countess of Genoa.  He was an athletic youth attending a private school and attended by many tutors.  At the age of 16 in 1903 it was decided that the young prince needed a real first world education.  Due to the turmoil ongoing in France it was decided not to send him to l'ecole polytechnique as his father and uncle had been.  Instead it was quietly arranged that he attended Eaton in the UNK with several of his cousins prior to going on to University at Cambridge.   After 2 Years at Cambridge Prince Armedo took time to study abroad in the New World and spent 2 semesters studying at Harvard University in the Norman Colonies of North America.  There have been persistent rumors that he traveled to the CSA during this time on something called a spring break.

It is known that the Prince is a natural linguist and is fluent in Italian, French, Spanish, German, English, and is known to speak some Arabic.  He attained a masters degree in Linguistics and Economics from Cambridge university in the UNK before spending 2 years at the Imperial War College in Rome.   He has spent time as a student and guest lecturer at the French Naval academy in Brest.  Over all Prince Armedo is reputed to be a very well traveled well educated young man.  He is extremely intelligent and at 29 years of age is as of yet unmarried.

[ctwaterman]

Rome Time July 5th 1916

Senate still deadlocked on Imperial Succession.

Today a resolution by Imperial Coalition Senators to declare Marcus Aquila Camila Emperor of all Italia failed in the Senate.   The resolution failed to pass with the required majority due to the efforts of the Southern Coalition and a small number of Imperial Coalition members who working with a number of unaligned Senators support the late Emperors request that his Grandson be elected as his Heir.



Rome Times July 18th 1916

Senators of the Southern Coalition rebuke Compromise.

An attempt to reach a Compromise in the Senate today with Imperial Senate members offering to broker a compromise between Marcus Aquila and the Southern Coalition was today rebuked by senior members of the Southern Coalition. When asked about the rebuff by the spokesman for Southern Coalition, Senator Claudia had the following to say: "We in the Southern Coalition have looked at the choices for Imperial Office and we find that our constituents and supporters simply cannot support the candidacy of Marcus Aquila for the Imperial Throne.  We are open to offers to elect his Brother Decius Taurus Camila Emperor or to consider other candidates!

[ctwaterman]

The Forum July 21st 1916

Senate unable to reach a consensus while wars continues to ravage South East Asia.

Despite a stern rebuke of the RRC by the Senate and its support of the Burmese Government the Senate of Rome once again failed to reach a compromise or resolution on the Issue of the Imperial Succession.  The Senate it appears is to busy poking its nose into the affairs of Asia to do the one thing is should be doing appointing the next Emperor. It appears that with three members of the Camila family up for the Job the Senate cant even make up its mind to support any of the candidates.

[ctwaterman]

Private Baths of the Senate of Rome, August 12th 1916.

Marcus Tullius Cicero  Senator of Rome head of the Republic Coalition and noted orator sat quietly in the baths reviewing the days Senate session in his mind while he slowly sipped a drink he had discovered while visiting the Confederate States of America many years ago.  The mint julep as it was called was just as effective in combating the heat of Rome in August as it had been in combating the heat in Charleston all those years ago.

Cicero simply wasn't used to being out smarted or uninformed, his networks of spies, informants and contacts saw to keeping him informed while a sharp mind and first class education had seen to the former.  But today he mussed quietly taking a sip of his drink today some how he hadn't been informed and he hadn't seen the twist in his plot until it was too late to completely derail the opposition's plans.
For over a month he had successfully stalled both the Southern Coalition and the Imperial Party from pushing through either of their agenda's.   His Republic Coalition and a large number of unaligned Senators that he had covertly gained control of had supported one proposal and then another allowing themselves to be bribed, cajoled, and threatened into not throwing their support to either side.  What few realized was his goal had been and always would be a Strong Republic, not an Empire.   And the opportunity to use the naming of a new Emperor as a way to weaken Imperial Power had been too good of an opportunity to pass up. 

Now he mussed leaning back into the cold bath while the bathing attendant worked on the tense muscles in his shoulder and back.   Now, what had gone wrong with his plan?  It should have been simple support the Southern Coalition and then the Imperial Party play them off against each other to buy time and to pass legislation under the powers granted to the Senate as head of state until such time as the next Emperor was elected.   The problem was the current legislation had been changed in committee and for some reason the Senators on that committee that he would have sworn were ardent supporters of the Southern Coalition had not only failed to inform him of the changes but had cosponsored them.   The basic legislation was correct a series of limitations on Imperial Powers that Marcus Aquila would have to accept if he wished to accept the Senates Election to the Imperial Throne.   But instead Marcus Aquila brother Decius Taurus as the Senate alternate choice for the thrown it named Marcus Aquila's son Armedo as Emperor should Marcus Aquila decline to accept the conditions and limitations placed upon Imperial rights and prerogatives'.  And most critically, the wording of the resolution made the limitations contingent upon Marcus Aquila accepting the throne.  What he wondered had made men that he knew hated Marcus Aquila change the plan they had agreed to just a few days ago.

Cicero sighed and sincerely hopped that Marcus Aquila was as much a despot and power hungry as the Southern Coalitions radicals made him out to be.  Because if he just rejected the entire resolution which had been the plan to begin with to make it so insulting he had to reject it and therefore make it appear that he was rejecting the Senates Election.   But there was a way out for Imperial family and he hopped desperately hoped they didn't see it because the legislation had passed on the floor of the Senate that afternoon by a large majority.   Even a number of the adamant Southern Coalition leaders had instead of opposing the vote had simply not voted and in several cases had supported it??

Cicero leaned back and ordered another Mint Julep.  The feeling of being outsmarted he realized for the first time was definitely unpleasant.

[ctwaterman]

August 2, 1916 – HQ Praetorian Guard Rome:

Lucius Decumius was expecting his son for a very important meeting.   Cornelius Justus Decimius has been in charge of the domestic security branch for some years and he had dire news about the Southern Coalition.   

Lucius sat at his desk cluttered with the remains of a working dinner and a significant pile of paperwork when his son quietly entered and sat down.  Lucius *looked up from his paper work* well what is the Southern Coalition up to this time.

Cornelius chuckled, nothing we hadn't expected father accept we didn't have Consul Maximus send enough of the younger sons of Senators and Nobles from the South off to new and exotic locations far from Rome.   My agents in that crowd have uncovered a plot by several of these young patriots to gather weapons and ammunition from their Reserve unit's armory and to make an attack on Marcus Aquila when he goes to visit his mistress.   Normally I would say they don't have a chance of success but this plan is very unlike the brash young men is that it is extremely carefully thought out and extremely well planned.   My agents have reported the Gentlemen in question have recently begun clandestine meeting with several unknown men possibly foreign agents.   My agent in the Southern Coalition has unfortunately been unable to meet any of these men directly nor arrange for their apprehension.

Lucius Decumius looked closely at his son. So he inquired what do you think we should do with this information?

Cornelius sat back and thought for several seconds.  That depends father he began his answer is it more important to punish the young men's treason or is it more important to protect the power of the Imperial Throne?

Lucius Decumius laughed dryly.  Punishment in this case would of course be secondary to serving the Empire!

Then I see an opportunity here father.   In stead of arresting all these important young men we use them.   I will gather sufficient evidence of their complicity with foreign agents to assassinate a member of the Imperial Family.   I will take that evidence to a Magistrate I know and he will draw up the arrest warrants.  You will then arrange a quiet meeting with the parents of these young men and we will see what those upright fathers will do to buy a pardon for their children?

Lucius Decumius looked at his son appreciatively.  That son is a very ingenious plan and I think I know how to make it work.   I have detected an influx of wealth from either Bavaria or the Habsburgs to purchase a few reluctant Senators.  If we use those Senators and the Fathers of at least 3 of the young gentlemen on your list we can undo what ever it is Senator Cicero is doing and carry out the Emperors final wishes.

[ctwaterman]

Chambers of the Imperial Senate of Rome: August 7th 1916

An aide had brought the committee overseeing foreign policy a report of the Dutch declaration of war on the Kingdom of Siam.  After a brief look around the room another aide was sent for refreshments and perhaps a map that contained the smaller countries of South East Asia.   After refreshments had been served a smaller map perused a decision was in order.

After a discussion with words who would want a swath of jungle like that, and I'm sure its all about the Kra Canal proposal from the 1st or maybe it was the 2nd Pacific War.  Further discussion concerned the use of mines possibly in international waters and freedom of navigation concerns. 

But it all came down in the end to cold hard pragmatism.  The case was simple Italia had no interests in a swamp on the other side of the world.  And while normally Italia would loudly object to any mining of International waters or interference with freedom of navigation in neutral waters the Empire was simply to busy at home to be concerned about a war nobody in the Empire would likely be able to locate on a map.  In addition no ships of the Empire were likely to be in the area to be hindered by the Dutch Blockade and mining operations.

The foreign office was to be instructed to make no comment concerning the affair and any inquires concerning the Empires stance would be forwarded to the Senate Committee.  After another short break for refreshments the arguments for and against candidates for Emperor resumed in earnest.