Bosworth

The United Kingdoms of Bosworth and Gascony
Flag Coat of Arms
Map versions	11.2.0 to 13.9.9
Capital	Shrewsbury
Largest city	Shrewsbury
Official language(s)	English, Old English, Gascon
Demonym	Bosworthian
- Adjective	Bosworthian
Government	Monarchy
- King of Bosworth	King Wentworth
Establishment	February 25, 2006
Area	NA
Population	17
Active population	3 (at dissolution)
Currency	Rosen (R)
National website	Official Website
National forum	Official Forums
National animal	Lion
National food	Apple
National drink	Tea
Abbreviation	BOS

The The United Kingdoms of Bosworth and Gascony (commonly known as Bosworth) was a micronation of the Micras community that was culturally based on the Tudor period of English history. It was active from February 25, 2006 to September 26, 2009.

History

Chronicle of the Founding

It is early 2007 and the people of New Brittania are fleeing the continent of Benacia as the empire of Númenor collapses, Prince Vincent of Franklin (Prince of Ithlien) is preparing to follow his people back to the western islands from whence they came. Unlike the rest of the Royal household (who had set off a week before) he was to travel with his servants and army commanders on one of the last ships to leave former Númenor: the HNBMS Comet. The Comet was infact quite a large and sturdy ship, holding in all around 1500 people including some of New Brittania's top army commanders. Riots saw the ship off as she sailed from Isenford May 30th into the western sunset, Prince Vincent took one last glance at the people desperately trying to escape the pier before turning his back to Benacia and disappearing below decks.

It was a four day journey from Isenford back to the Home Islands, however on the forth day of plain sailing something went wrong. Prince Vincent was called to the bridge and informed that all power had been lost from the engines, when asked why the ship was still moving the captain reported that the vessel was in a strange current which was carrying it westward. It was around now that Home Islands came into view upon the horizon, however the Comet for once lived up to it's name and continued to move onwards at high speed. All efforts to restart the engines failed, as did the radios, so red flares were fired and they hung in the sky above the vessel: however no help came. Hours went by, however still no other ship appeared and as night came the lights from the shore faded to nothing and New Brittania was lost into the darkness.

The desperation of their situation was not lost upon Prince Vincent who spent all the hours of darkness and most of the next day up to his elbows in petrol and oil in the engine room as they grappled with the engines however they still refused to start. The Captain of HMS Comet spent his time in the bridge, trying desperately to find out where the currents might take them however he to had too admit defeat. After a meeting that evening the Prince informed the assembled generals that they would simply have to wait until the ship found land and then stay there until help came: which he assured them it would. With this in mind the generals reluctantly agreed, little did they know that as they spoke every patrol plane in the New Brittanian Airforce was searching for them and the Emergency Executive was working around the clock to try and find the King's missing son.

Yet more days passed without any sign of land or rescue and the Prince became doubtful that they would live, although he did a good job of hiding it from everyone else so spirits didn't hit rock bottom. Food ran short, as did tempers as the cramped conditions of the ship caused frustration amongst the stranded passengers. However eventually salvation came. At sunrise one day (everyone onboard having lost track of time) the ship suddenly struck something solid. The passengers woke with the strange movement of the ship and rushed out onto the deck to be met with an awe inspiring site: land.

The HNBMS Comet was now wedged in a sandbank in a river delta and all around them was land, green grass and trees stretching out into the distance. Some of the passengers fell to their knees and sobbed as they heard the noise of birds singing on the banks, for they knew they had found their salvation and would soon be found and rescued. After little hesitation the ladders were lowered over the side of the ship and one by one the passengers climbed down and found themselves knee deep in mud before wading to the shore. The immidiate thought of many was to find food, which was plentiful and readily availible. So life improved dramtically as shelters were put up and the New Brittanians began to enjoy their peaceful lives on the shore of the strange river, some to the extent that they even forgot they werent meant to be there at all. A community sprang up on the river bank and more and more elaborate homes were built as months went by and men began farming inland areas where the flooding river had made the land fertile and prosperous. Prince Vincent had fitted into this the role as leader well and some had begun to considering him as King of the community and using his middle name. So King Edward ruled over the people in peace and he began to forget all about the home island or even his Father King Jeremy, until one day he was reminded.

King Edward was woken in the early morning by one of his servants. The King lived, unsuprisingly in the largest of the many houses which had sprung up on the riverside and as he existed through the great doors his servant pointed out into the river. Initially King Edward's eyes fell on the HNBMS Comet still stood in the sand, however soon he realised the Comet was no longer alone. HNBMS Electra was floating nearby and its decks were crowded with sailors, some of whom were boarding landing craft, others meanwhile gazed in wonder at the small town and waved to the tiny figures of their Prince and his servant.

King Edward continued to watch as a small boat made its way to the shore and landed, a number of sailors including an Admiral stepped out onto the grass and made for the King. The Admiral turned out to be Lord Packard of the New Brittanian Navy, who revealed he had been searching for Prince Vincent for nearly a year and was there to take them all home to civilisation once more. However, much to Lord Packard's suprise, Prince Vincent declined the offer explaining that they had found a simple life here and wished only to know where they were and he would be content. King Edward then uttered the famous words, "From disaster has come prosperity, from dispair has come joy and from a Prince has come a King. Here we shall build a nation to last a thousand years, may these days be blessed with all the virtues of a Kingdom of heaven."

After being resupplied from the land the Electra set sail once more, their search having suceeded but their mission failed. It was on the same day that King Edward finally announced the official creation of the Kingdom, Bosworth: a nation built upon simple joys and freedom for all.

Later History

Following a period of inactivity which began near the end of May 2009, it was decided on July 17, 2009 that Bosworth would dissolve as an active micronation . Bosworth was subsequently removed from the Micras world map on September 26, 2009 during the Version 14.0.0 update.

Geography

Map of Bosworth by King Wentworth II

Bosworth was divided into seven duchies:

• Carthborough;
• Gascony;
• East Holland;
• Ford Islands;
• Shenton Wolds;
• St. Paul's; and,
• West Holland.

Economy

The economy of Bosworth was based largely on Tudor society, the primary historical theme adopted by the micronation. In July 2007, an economic system based on farming was unveiled, with each citizen granted a certain number of sheep as a means of assigning wealth. The system was later expanded to include other livestock and crops as a means of establishing economic class, based on sheep acting as the lowest-cost commodity. The order of livestock and crops based on most-to-least valuable was as follows:

1. Horses;
2. Cows;
3. Barley (per tonne);
4. Wheat (per tonne);
5. Pigs; and,
6. Sheep.

A series of resource maps were developed for the Kingdom showing the distribution of each of the above-noted commodities. The economy was further supported by the military being tasked with building grain stores and improving pasture fencing in order to separate livestock grazing areas from food crop fields.

The economic system failed to gain traction within Bosworthian society and fell out of use shortly after its implementation. In 2009, consideration was briefly given to launching a new system based on the exchange of activity and culture (i.e., the creation of a certain cultural item would be paid for by a certain number of posts being made at the forums); however, the system was never implemented.

Honours

A rudimentary system of Honours was introduced in Bosworth during its final year, consisting of three awards, for which citizens and, in some cases, foreign nationals qualified.

The highest military honour, awarded for conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy, was the George Cross. It consisted of a silver cross capped with a royal crown, with St. George and the dragon in the centre. The words "For Valour and Gallantry" encircled St. George and the dragon. The medal hung from a purple ribbon. The honour was only to be bestowed upon members of Bosworth's military.

The Cross of St. Edmund was the highest civilian honour, and it was bestowed on individuals in recognition of great acts of heroism or conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger. The medal was a bronze cross with a lion, the national animal, sitting in the centre. The lion was surrounded by the words "For Gallantry". The medal hung from a dark blue ribbon. The honour was only available to Bosworthians.

The third honour was permitted to be bestowed on both Bosworthians and foreign nationals alike. The Most Distinguished Order of St. Joan and St. Jean was granted to individuals who had shown distinguished service to Bosworth, the micronational community, or humanity as a whole. The medal consisted of a circular piece of bronze bearing the image of St. Christopher, which was encircled by the words "God Calls Me". The medal hung on a white ribbon with diagonal purple stripes.