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Gouachevalier — Acadiana: The Republic

Published: 2014-02-25 02:24:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 3695; Favourites: 30; Downloads: 10
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Description  In 1871, the fall of the Second French Empire led to a mass emigration to Acadiana by scores of Bonapartist officials, seeking asylum from the Third Republic. Many of these included experience generals and military officers, noble statesmen and economic geniuses. With these wayward Imperialists back in the fold, Lætitio sought to avenge his losses during the American Civil War. Once again, in 1873, the Acadians made a vast push into southeastern Louisiana, threatening the sanctity of New Orleans itself. However, the Huguenot Flotilla remained at port in New Nantes, fearing another March to the Sea. Despite the superb naval service of the House of Lafitte de Campeche in the west, the critical lack of eastern sea support (and military insubordination) ultimately doomed the war effort.

In 1875, the United States and the Republic of Texas, between them, occupied most of western Acadiana, with Texas occupying the critical privateering city of Campeche (renaming it Galveston in the process), thereby displacing House Lafitte, and the States pushing Acadian forces back across the Vermilion River. There, before Lætitio could sue for peace, riots broke out in the streets of the capital. The Emperor fled on a steamboat down the Vermilion and eventually found refuge in the Imperial Court of Mexico City, as the guest of his cousin, Agustín II.

Following the coup, traces of the old Bonapartist regime were terminated with extreme prejudice by the new government. The Imperial Crown was broken, and its jewels were pawned to pay for the costs of the war with America. The Imperial Eagle was replaced with a shield depicting Acadiana’s colonial past – eternally split between Spain and France, eventually rising above the struggle as a golden star, representing St. Mary of the Assumption. The French language was banned in public, and instead, Louisiana French (a language with both French and African elements) was made the official tongue of the new Republic.

These new measures irritated the Acadian exclave of New Nantes. The first Huguenot citizens were, of course, mainly comprised of French émigrés that had settled in Florida after the French Wars of Religion and the Edict of Fontainebleau, and as such spoke ‘proper’ French instead of the Louisiana dialect. Many of them were also loyal Bonapartists, the city itself having been established by the Eaglet in 1821. Divided from Vermilionville linguistically, geographically, and ecclesiastically, agitation began for succession from the Republic.

In the occupied territories, a new nationalism began to stir. In Texas and America, Acadians refused to participate in their respective processes – and, what’s more, formed a militia dubbed the Acadian National Guard to strike at military targets and prevent tax collections. The House of Lafitte, officially driven into Galveston's underground, resumed their old smuggling practices and made quite a killing in the black market. Several terrorist cells even began to operate in the region: the infamous French Quarter Rebellion would become a black mark for the south.

Acadiana itself was strangled. Its lone port permanently blockaded, land trade suspended and scrutinized, the politicians eventually began to squabble amongst themselves, particularly over the lingering issue of slavery. With the economy in the dumps, a pertinent fact became apparent: in order to achieve its long-term military and economic goals, Acadiana would have to make nice with the United States.

Part 1: Acadiana
Part 2: Acadiana v. Texas
Part 3: Acadiana v. Comancheria
Pat 4: Acadiana v. Mexico
Part 5: Acadiana v. Union
Part 6
Part 7: Acadiana: The Marquisate
Part 8: Acadiana: Partition of Texas
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Comments: 11

Vesperity [2014-08-11 20:47:03 +0000 UTC]

Interesting. I fell upon this by accident. What is interesting is I live in the Acadiana area hah. Nice story by the way.

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Gouachevalier In reply to Vesperity [2014-08-12 10:50:05 +0000 UTC]

Really - I'm a West Floridian, mesmelfs! (Lafayette is probably the only place in Acadiana I've ever visited, sadly.)

And thanks for the fav! I'll definitely continue the story in the future: certainly with more Texascapades. Just working on some other projects at the moment...

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SoaringAven [2014-02-25 02:53:21 +0000 UTC]

Is that a GOLD star on a SILVER background?? O_O *faints*


But I love this story Keep it coming!

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Gouachevalier In reply to SoaringAven [2014-02-25 16:37:05 +0000 UTC]

Hey, I didn't make it! (I will, however, plead the Vatican Exemption - is that a thing?)

Perhaps one day, I'll settle on a single color for the US - but for now, expect many do-overs! And thanks for your support!

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SoaringAven In reply to Gouachevalier [2014-02-25 17:04:26 +0000 UTC]

Never heard of it

So who made it?


NP

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Gouachevalier In reply to SoaringAven [2014-02-25 19:19:27 +0000 UTC]

Google tells me it was designed by a local professor named Arceneaux (the flag, anyway)

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SoaringAven In reply to Gouachevalier [2014-02-25 22:28:36 +0000 UTC]

But for whom?

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Gouachevalier In reply to SoaringAven [2014-02-26 13:56:06 +0000 UTC]

Acadiana (the region, not the nonexistent country!)

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SoaringAven In reply to Gouachevalier [2014-02-26 15:41:22 +0000 UTC]

Ooooh

So, will the monarchy be restored? :3

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Gouachevalier In reply to SoaringAven [2014-02-26 19:18:13 +0000 UTC]

... Define 'monarchy'. Also, no spoilers!

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SoaringAven In reply to Gouachevalier [2014-02-26 19:21:14 +0000 UTC]

Ein König! O_O

I would never

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