Coronation of King Arkadius IV
The coronation of king Arkadius IV as King of Batavia took place at the Cathedral of 's Koningenwaarde on the 9th Sprokkelmaand 1669 AN (9 February 2019). Arkadius Frederik Gustavus des Vinandy had been elected during the 1668 Lagerhuis elections and had received popular support from both the Ultraroyalists and Conservatives to re-establish the monarchy under the House of des Vinandy. David Ayreon-Kalirion, a nephew of the Kaiser of Shireroth, had been the first choice, but opposition from both within and outside cabinet Baerdemans and the instability of the political situation had made a coronation impossible without endangering the young prince's life.
In the end, using the popularity of Arkadius, who had been elected prime minister in 1668 AN, the Constitution was changed and Arkadius' family restored to the Throne. The date was chosen on purpose, as it was exactly 13 earth years earlier (156 Norton Years) that Batavia had been established as the Free States of Batavia.
The ceremony remained a largely conservative affair and closely followed the ceremonial of earlier Kings and Queens. It began with a royal procession through the streets, from Huys Vredebregt (which served as official residence of the prime minister) to the Cathedral of 's Koningenwaarde. Certain changes were made to the pledges of loyalty, to reflect the transformations which the country had gone through. The crowning and enthronement by the Archbishop, representing his assumption of temporal powers and responsibilities with the blessing of the Catologian Church of which he himself becomes the head was followed by the signing of the new Constitution. Thereafter the peers of the realm then paid homage to the new King.
Crowds of people lined the streets to watch it, over 12,000 soldiers (most of them members of militia from all across the Kingdom) took part and 30,000 police officers lined the route. The coronation was commemorated by the issuing of official medals, coinage, and stamps, by military parades across the nation, and by numerous unofficial celebrations, including street parties and the production of memorabilia.
Background
In 1668 AN the Kingdom of Batavia was slowly gaining momentum. The elections had ousted the corrupt and tired former Vryheer, August Baerdemans, from the office of prime minister. His party - the Ultraroyalists - had suffered a stunning defeat at the hand of the Conservative Monarchist Party. Those who remained in the party rebelled against their leader under leadership of Joseph Bartholomeus des Vinandy-Windsor. The lack of any progress in regaining land from the Shirerithians had also diminished the chances of David Ayreon-Kalirion to ascend the Throne as new King. The bitterly fought for constitution - which assured David of his Crown - was swiftly replaced by one which gave it to the House of des Vinandy.
Talks between the Cabinet des Vinandy and the Imperial Republic eventually also ended up in a treaty proposal, which granted the Kingdom all of its old territory back (and more). Popularity of the future King rose to unknown heights, with even the most staunch anti-vinandists admitting defeat.
Guests
Members of the Royal Family attended while all peers of the Realm (including those who had gained nobility under the Shirerithian or Jingdaoese authorities) and members of parliament were invited. Leading provincial administrators, ambassadors, and royalty of Nations who were soon to join the Batavian Union were also on the guest lists.
Several heads of state were invited as special guests:
- Margaery des Vinandy, Queen of the Beneluccas
- Gustavus des Vinandy, King of Arcadia
- Reginald de Montfort, Magistrate of Kasterburg
- Ayreon IV, Kaiser of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth
- Chidao Emperor, Heavenly Light of Jingdao
