Eternity RPC Board
07-05-2018, 11:19 PM
Reims, Kingdom of Burgudny | March 10, 1780
After days of intense suffering, King Louis Joseph I finally died on March 9, in the Palace of Tas, surrounded by his wife Queen Charlotte, his two daughters and a small group of his inner circle. While it was not exactly a secret that the Louis Joseph's reign was likely to end sooner than expected, and the king and his government was preparing for such event, it was mostly unknown the real state of the king's health.
The royal funeral was prepared at the end of the week, and the coronation of Princess Marie de Bourbon as Queen of Burgundy was announced to be celebrated in the Cathedral of Reims before the end of the mouth. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte -Louis Joseph's wife- would take charge temporarily as regent until her daughter was crowded as the first Queen in the history of the Kingdom of Burgundy. It was not clear if there were going to be changes in the government, but at least for now, Étienne-François de Choiseul was expected to continue as Chief Minister.
Charleroi, Kingdom of Burgundy | March 16, 1780
Jean-François Treasaud, the mayor of Charleroi, was suddenly waken up at his home, even if that day he was expected to rest. He was then informed that about two hundred men had unexpectedly arrived to the town. They gathered in the main square of the town. Many of them were carrying Burgundian banners, and soon "Long live the King!" chants resounded toward the city. While they could be understood as a sign of respect and mourning for late King Louis Joseph I, it was obvious that something strange was happening.
Jean-François Treasaud was meeting with Captain François Henri Boufflers, who informed him of the situation in the nearby garrison. Treasaud was nervous about the current situation, that he was barely able to understand, but he was uncertain if the use of force wouldn't make the situation even worse. While their meeting wasn't over yet, Treasaud was informed that a small group of armed men had crossed the Sambre river. Auguste Marie Raymond d’Arenberg was allegedly leading those men, and he demanded a meeting with Treasaud.
Auguste Marie Raymond d’Arenberg was the son of Charles Marie Raymond d’Arenberg, former Chief Minister of the Kingdom of Burgundy. Their family came from the German nobility, and his father, after starting his military career in the Austrian army, became a prominent military officer in the Burgundian army, being appointed Chief Minister a decade later. They were known for being staunch conservatives, and they were influencial in the region as their family owned thousands acres of land in Northern Burgundy. Charles Marie Raymond, who had died on the first of March, had two sons, Auguste Marie Raymond -the youngest, who joined the military at age 17-, and Louis Engelbert, who was expected to inherit the family business.
Auguste Marie Raymond d'Arenberg explained Jean-François Treasaud the situation. Treasaud understood the situation clearly, and while he was not entirely happy about it, as a loyal supporter of the Burgundian state, he realized that it was worthless to offer any resistance. The decision had already being taken, and he could only accept it now.
Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, the Duke of Charleroi, had left the Kingdom of Burgundy, as he rejected to swear an oath to his niece Princess Marie de Bourbon, after the Succession Sanction, signed by King Louis Joseph I on early January, abolished the Salic system. Now, he entered triumphantly back to Charleroi.
His entourage stopped in front of the Cathedral of Charleroi, where both supporters and curious inhabitants of the city were gathering.
"Fellow Charleroises!", Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon said from the cathedral main stairs.
"Our hearts is still mournful for the death of my beloved cousin! Let's pray that God received Louis Joseph in all his glory, becoming another honourable guest of the heavenly home", he declared with unclear affectation.
"It is not ambition to the throne that moves me", Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon declared with a more serious and dry tone. "It's not in my spirit to desire passing goods. But the good faith, the observance and respect to the law, in particular to the fundamental law of succession, and the personal obligation to defend the legitimate rights of my own sons and relatives...they force me to claim and defend the Burgundian crowd of such a violent usurpation that it was caused by an illegal decree which violated the basic law in which the Kingdom of Burgundian was created more than a century ago. The Burgundian laws are as sacred as the stones of this cathedral, and they must be defended".
"It's only faith and duty", he continued, "that move me to proclaim these words. Since the sad moment when my beloved cousin died (may the Lord blesses him), my spirit could only believe that that legitimate claim to the crowd could only be respected by every Burgundian subject. If then the absence of loyal would have been no other thing but treason, then I proclaim they should be considered as such those who reject to serve my cause and swear to my banners...I call every loyal servant of our kingdom to plegde allegiance to my person, as legitimate monarch, including generals, governors, mayors, and every civil and military authority, whom I will give proper instructions as soon I am formally crowded King in the Cathedral of Reims, as every King of Burgundy was crowded before me. I proclaim unity, peace, and faith as my true banners. I don't wish that my loyal subjects who love and respect me, kill fellow Burgundians or commit crimes in my name. Justice against the traitors will be duly administered. Order and Justice will be the two pillars of my reign, I proclaim. Those good and loyal subjects will be rewarded, while sinners and traitors will be punished by the full weight of the law and God's will. Therefore I demand that every subject of our kingdom to consider every word of this declaration as law, and ignore every order from the usurpers of my legitimate rights".
A silent followed Louis Jean Marie's words. "Long live the King!", a man said, breaking the silence that followed the speech.
"Long live King Louis Joseph!", an isolated voice in the middle of the crown screamed.
"Long live King Louis Jean!", another voice responded. "Long live the King!", many voices followed.
After days of intense suffering, King Louis Joseph I finally died on March 9, in the Palace of Tas, surrounded by his wife Queen Charlotte, his two daughters and a small group of his inner circle. While it was not exactly a secret that the Louis Joseph's reign was likely to end sooner than expected, and the king and his government was preparing for such event, it was mostly unknown the real state of the king's health.
The royal funeral was prepared at the end of the week, and the coronation of Princess Marie de Bourbon as Queen of Burgundy was announced to be celebrated in the Cathedral of Reims before the end of the mouth. Meanwhile, Queen Charlotte -Louis Joseph's wife- would take charge temporarily as regent until her daughter was crowded as the first Queen in the history of the Kingdom of Burgundy. It was not clear if there were going to be changes in the government, but at least for now, Étienne-François de Choiseul was expected to continue as Chief Minister.
Charleroi, Kingdom of Burgundy | March 16, 1780
Jean-François Treasaud, the mayor of Charleroi, was suddenly waken up at his home, even if that day he was expected to rest. He was then informed that about two hundred men had unexpectedly arrived to the town. They gathered in the main square of the town. Many of them were carrying Burgundian banners, and soon "Long live the King!" chants resounded toward the city. While they could be understood as a sign of respect and mourning for late King Louis Joseph I, it was obvious that something strange was happening.
Jean-François Treasaud was meeting with Captain François Henri Boufflers, who informed him of the situation in the nearby garrison. Treasaud was nervous about the current situation, that he was barely able to understand, but he was uncertain if the use of force wouldn't make the situation even worse. While their meeting wasn't over yet, Treasaud was informed that a small group of armed men had crossed the Sambre river. Auguste Marie Raymond d’Arenberg was allegedly leading those men, and he demanded a meeting with Treasaud.
Auguste Marie Raymond d’Arenberg was the son of Charles Marie Raymond d’Arenberg, former Chief Minister of the Kingdom of Burgundy. Their family came from the German nobility, and his father, after starting his military career in the Austrian army, became a prominent military officer in the Burgundian army, being appointed Chief Minister a decade later. They were known for being staunch conservatives, and they were influencial in the region as their family owned thousands acres of land in Northern Burgundy. Charles Marie Raymond, who had died on the first of March, had two sons, Auguste Marie Raymond -the youngest, who joined the military at age 17-, and Louis Engelbert, who was expected to inherit the family business.
Auguste Marie Raymond d'Arenberg explained Jean-François Treasaud the situation. Treasaud understood the situation clearly, and while he was not entirely happy about it, as a loyal supporter of the Burgundian state, he realized that it was worthless to offer any resistance. The decision had already being taken, and he could only accept it now.
Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, the Duke of Charleroi, had left the Kingdom of Burgundy, as he rejected to swear an oath to his niece Princess Marie de Bourbon, after the Succession Sanction, signed by King Louis Joseph I on early January, abolished the Salic system. Now, he entered triumphantly back to Charleroi.
His entourage stopped in front of the Cathedral of Charleroi, where both supporters and curious inhabitants of the city were gathering.
"Fellow Charleroises!", Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon said from the cathedral main stairs.
"Our hearts is still mournful for the death of my beloved cousin! Let's pray that God received Louis Joseph in all his glory, becoming another honourable guest of the heavenly home", he declared with unclear affectation.
"It is not ambition to the throne that moves me", Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon declared with a more serious and dry tone. "It's not in my spirit to desire passing goods. But the good faith, the observance and respect to the law, in particular to the fundamental law of succession, and the personal obligation to defend the legitimate rights of my own sons and relatives...they force me to claim and defend the Burgundian crowd of such a violent usurpation that it was caused by an illegal decree which violated the basic law in which the Kingdom of Burgundian was created more than a century ago. The Burgundian laws are as sacred as the stones of this cathedral, and they must be defended".
"It's only faith and duty", he continued, "that move me to proclaim these words. Since the sad moment when my beloved cousin died (may the Lord blesses him), my spirit could only believe that that legitimate claim to the crowd could only be respected by every Burgundian subject. If then the absence of loyal would have been no other thing but treason, then I proclaim they should be considered as such those who reject to serve my cause and swear to my banners...I call every loyal servant of our kingdom to plegde allegiance to my person, as legitimate monarch, including generals, governors, mayors, and every civil and military authority, whom I will give proper instructions as soon I am formally crowded King in the Cathedral of Reims, as every King of Burgundy was crowded before me. I proclaim unity, peace, and faith as my true banners. I don't wish that my loyal subjects who love and respect me, kill fellow Burgundians or commit crimes in my name. Justice against the traitors will be duly administered. Order and Justice will be the two pillars of my reign, I proclaim. Those good and loyal subjects will be rewarded, while sinners and traitors will be punished by the full weight of the law and God's will. Therefore I demand that every subject of our kingdom to consider every word of this declaration as law, and ignore every order from the usurpers of my legitimate rights".
A silent followed Louis Jean Marie's words. "Long live the King!", a man said, breaking the silence that followed the speech.
"Long live King Louis Joseph!", an isolated voice in the middle of the crown screamed.
"Long live King Louis Jean!", another voice responded. "Long live the King!", many voices followed.