New Coburg-Gotha
| Grand Principality of New Coburg and Gotha | |
|---|---|
| Status | Special Autonomous Territory |
| Capital | Gotha |
| Official languages | English, German |
| Government | |
• Governor | Sophia, House of Coburg-Gotha |
| Establishment | |
• Founded | 13 October, 1877 |
• Absorbed into Denton | 13 October, 1981 |
| Time zone | (UTC+4:00 to +5:00) |
| Drives on the | left |
New Coburg and Gotha is a collection of islands in the southern Indian Ocean, comprising of the Kerguelen Islands, the Crozet Islands, Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
New Coburg and Gotha was founded in 1877 by Grand Prince Edgar, along with 1172 colonists from various countries in Europe, primarily the German Empire and England.
In 1981, plagued with severe financial troubles, New Coburg and Gotha was absorbed by Denton as a Special Autonomous Territory.
New Coburg and Gotha was created by Ethan Goin and is a part of Austellus Hemisphaeria
History
Edgar was the seventh child and third son of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. Being fourth-in-line to the British throne, Edgar had little interest in the politics of the United Kingdom. He spent his early years travelling around Europe, where he met Princess Cecile of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The two married, Edgar 18 years of age, and Cecile 16. Unfortunately, she died a year later during childbirth, in which his child was lost as well. Despite the devastating loss of his young wife, by that time Edgar had taken residence in Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and had invested himself quite heavily in its politics. The German Empire had been formed just before he settled in Gotha but, despite this, one of his platforms was that S-CG should have retained its independence. A very radical and flawed viewpoint, but interestingly, he did have a small number of followers. Edgar kept fighting his case and was humiliated after he presented his case to the Landtag. He travelled back home to Britain, keeping a low profile out of the public eye. During his brief time in Britain, he took up surveying and learned of several island groups in the Indian ocean, not officially owned by anyone. Edgar formulated a plan, a very simple plan. Buy, move, settle.
To make things simpler in terms of getting there, he travelled around England, speaking with multiple shipping companies in search of two ships, a steamer and a sail ship. A sail ship was quickly found, an old 1151 ton Blackwall Frigate named Clyde. It was nearing the end of its life and Edgar was able to get it for scrap value. In the continuing search for a steamship, Edgar found a two-masted schooner which he foolishly decided to buy, renaming it Prinzessin Cecile. After another month of searching, a merchant came forward with a wooden paddle steamer named Africa. Africa was to be convered to a sail ship, but was instead laid up. With some repair, it would be ready to steam again.
During Edgar's quest for ships, he spread the news around, looking for people to come with him on his journey. By the time of the departure date, there were 1173 people on the roster (including willing crew). Most people were from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (631) and surrounding Ernestine Duchies, with the next major group from Scotland (407). The other remaining colonists (134) were of other groups from around Europe. A good portion of colonists were educated individuals, with knowledge in construction, farming, mining, logging, and other trades that would be useful for starting a new settlement.
On 4 September 1877, on a foggy morning in Plymouth, the three colony ships departed for a new world, free from the tyranny of large governments. Despite the cramped conditions, there were no major issues. Of the 1173 colonists, 737 were on the Africa, 412 were on the Clyde, and 24 were on the Prinzessin Cecile. Edgar had converted several cabins on the Africa to be used as new government meeting rooms, in which vital documents of the government were to be drafted. Edgar had appointed a political advisor, Dietrich Schwarze to stand in for him during these meetings and speak on Edgars behalf. While these meetings were going on, however, Edgar spent most all of his time in his lavish suite with his secretary Ella Graeme. He pored over a single map drawn by a British Surveyor a few years prior. It was sparsely detailed, but enough for him to plan what he need to do.
After a coaling stop in Cape Town on 28-29 September 1877, the three ships continued towards the Crozet islands. On 7 October, early in the morning, the look out on Africa sighted land. Africa's Captain blasted the fog horn, prompting colonists to rush to the deck to see the first three islands of their new land, Apostles, Hog, and Penguin. At dinner the same day, Africa and Prinzessin Cecile anchored in a small bay of Possesion island. During the day, the settlers of the Clyde who wished to stay in Crozet took a boat to Africa. Prinzessin Cecile would stay behind for several weeks until Clyde came back. Clyde continued on towards Kerguelen. In total, 43 colonists were offloaded at Crozet, including food supplies to last them for a month, a steam pinnace, and several boats. The new camp was called Zella, after a town in Gotha. Africa stayed for a day and left on 9 Oct 1877.
Clyde arrived at Foundry Arm Bay 10 October 1877, where Coburg was to be founded, and Africa arrived in Morbihan Bay 12 Oct 1877, where Gotha would be. Africa moored out in the open bay and colonists and materials were shuttled by pinnace and whaleboat. As colonists set up camp, Edgar, Graeme, and MacKilligan (known as the 'Court') traversed and surveyed a route for a road to Coburg. A small group of 5 others went along with them, carrying supplies. It took them two days, and they travelled along what would also be a suitable route for a railway, a route of about 30 miles. Once graded.
The colonist's opinion of the Kerguelen Islands was generally favorable, though most everyone was shocked at the barrenness of the land. After arriving, there was a small group of about 70 who wanted to go back to Crozet. Despite the mixed feelings, the outlook was positive and people were eager to build a home for themselves.
Two weeks after landing, Gotha was starting to shape into a town. Plots of land were distributed in what was designated as the city limits, foundations for new houses/buildings marked, and the first courses of foundations were starting to be run. No buildings had been constructed, aside from 'Gotha in Canvas' a tent city just off the beach. A suitable 'quarry' for rocks was found neary and rocks for construction were carried and collected in a rock pile outside of town. There were several major problems that was preventing construction. There was no cement, there was no effective means of transportation for supplies as there were no beast of burden, and the food supply was used up quicker than expected and was nearing the margin for rationing. These were soon the be rectified, however, as the Court was planning a visit to Denton, the nearest neighbor of Gotha. On 23 October 1877, the Court and the Africa (which included 30 crew) departed for Paerau, Denton.
