Letters of Latitude

[Hanseatic Republics]

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Det kongelige slottet
7 Karl Gustavs gate
Kristiania, Agder​

Til: President Manuel Rodriguez
Fortaleza Real, Frescania

Fra: King Haakon V
Kristiania, Agderike

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13. November 1952

Dear Mr President,

I do hope that you forgive my antiquated ways. Nothing more is it that I enjoy than writing a letter. Telegram and telephone can be so fast, yet so impersonal at the same time. I trust that you have fully recovered from your wound? Last I recall seeing you in person it did give you all so much pain.

I write to you of course due to the the recent troubles you have no doubt read about in the papers. My son is dead, his wife, my daughter-in-law recovering but with no doubt a heavy heart. We've yet to hold the funeral and an investigation has occurred. Of course you have heard us place the blame upon Communist elements. I wish I could tell you it were true. My Royal investigation has shown that this murder was of domestic origin from those who desire a Republic. An end to the Monarchy. Killing my son no doubt is the only way forward to their causes. I cannot place the blame them though. If I should my attempts at democracy in my Kingdom could be a failure. If I ever wish for some element of democracy to succeed in my Kingdom I feel I must keep our democratic processes pure. Without the extremists who pursue the guillotine to my family ruining it for all. A laughing stock it would make my attempts to push forward rule by the people. A laughing stock indeed.

I debate greatly how I should handle my plight. My daughter is to inherit the Kingdom, but she is no where to be found. My inquiries place her in Fey. I cannot get her to return though. How I wish we never quarreled. I should have let her pursue her own desires. Monarchy must modernize as time moves forward, and it is something I've failed to consider in regards to my own family. I debate placing the hands of the Kingdom in this Lagting, my Parliament. I have worked a great deal to keep them in place. So I trust the future of Europe to be in the hands of democracy, but I cannot foresee, an entirely positive future for us should these Republican elements continue to kill. For it maybe myself who falls next. I must immediately come up with a plan should this happen. I believe that perhaps allowing for the Parliament to summon a new Royal Family maybe in my country's best interests.

Do you have such an opinion on this? I must say though, you must tell me if you plan on continue for another term. I cannot see how you could find yourself without it if you truthfully desired so. As we know, you took a bullet for your Republic. It ought to give you a monopoly on future work prospects. I do hope you'll come visit someday. Lord knows how I would love to see your beaches again.

Med Vennlig Hilsen,
Haakon

Haakon
​

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[Frescania]

Palacio de Miraflores,
2190 Avenida de la Republica
Fortaleza Real, Terrastania, Frescania​

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To: King Haakon V
7 Karl Gustavs gate
Kristiania, Adger

From: Manuel Rodriguez,
President of the United Republic of Frescania​

17 of November, 1952

Your Royal Highness,

I am writing to express my gratitude for your kind letter, it has been a refreshing change from the usual means of communication throughout Miraflores and the Republic’s government. I can attest that my recovery has been swift, but I am still not fully well.

I, together with the Republic and her government, send our condolence once more about the tragedy that has hit your family. We truly cannot allow violence of any kind of harm our families, society's core unit. I pray that your family will have the funeral soon and this tragedy’s wounds heal quickly.

I have also been informed of the republican connection to the assault. Let me assure you that our ideology should not take a violent route. However, the Republic cannot always constraint all those that take such horrific actions in the name of Republicanism.

Democracy in Agderike will benefit greatly from your nurturing. You must understand that our own republican system took root in an age of enlightenment, in which our greatest thinkers were given freedom in the academies. When the time came to transition to a Republic, the Monarchy took too long and then turn against the idea, which caused our bloody Revolution.

You must fight these extremists while providing room to your middle class citizens to take hold of the democratic procedure. Your Parliament should take more responsibility over the realms of governance, so that all members of the Lagting have a stock in the success of the democratic transition. Your family can continue to oversee the Kingdom as a constitutional monarchs, but you must stand above the pity fight of politics and condemn all forms of violence.

Of course, sectors of this Republic and other nations will condemn your fight against republican extremists, and I, as President of the Republic, might also call your government out. But this cannot distract you from the long run goal.

As for a second term, I must say that I did not want to. It was my hope that a Socialist victory on this past Parliamentary election would allow Chancellor Miguel Carmelas to run for the Presidency, which would free me from the duties of the office and give me the time to fully heal. However, with Chomirac as Chancellor-Elect, I must prevent a Democratic full take over the government. I have thus decided to run for re-election. I will be making this decision public in near future.

Yours truly,

Manuel Rodriguez

 

[Hanseatic Republics]

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Det kongelige slottet
7 Karl Gustavs gate
Kristiania, Agder​

Til: President Manuel Rodriguez
Palacio de Miraflores,
2190 Avenida de la Republica
Fortaleza Real, Terrastania, Frescania

Fra: King Haakon V
Kristiania, Agderike

* * * * *​

23. November 1952

Dear Mr President,

I must congratulate you and your announcement to seek a second term. Your governance is best; for when the wise do not present themselves to govern, then surely the foolish shall bring destruction upon our world as governance must be continued regardless of who wears the crown. Even if it might so be that your position does not grant you a physical object in any shape or form of a crown. Europe as a whole shall be the benefactors, even if a sizable portion of your citizenry might believe otherwise.

I fully intend to follow your re-election with great interest.

I do worry greatly over the powers to present to the Lagting. The governmental body simply has no history or tradition. I have now granted them the ability to elect a successor to myself shall I perish, in which case they would become a permanent legislature. This news has emboldened the men and women in my Kingdom of Fey. They riot demanding for more concessions and greater representation. The rest of my Kingdom remain quite content. How much can we sufficiently trust a mob? Is a mob not democracy in it's infantile earnest? I wonder when or if I should submit to their demands, yet I know that such agreement can only result in further mob rule. I understand you as a scholar of your nation's great republican past. Where is it that the monarchy failed you to the point of no return?

My daughter has finally corresponded. She only wrote to inform me of her rejection of her position as the Crown Princess. I find it a shocking trouble in that she would reject my match for her marriage and subsequently reject this great step forward for her future. She is a disappointment to me. The only thing I would understand from this is that it was post marked in Festning Ingaborg. I at least have her whereabouts confirmed. I do not plan to inform the Lagting of this development though. I think it would prove more of a detriment to this Monarchy than my countrymen need.

Med Vennlig Hilsen,
Haakon

Haakon
​

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[Hanseatic Republics]

You must be registered for see images

Det kongelige slottet
7 Karl Gustavs gate
Kristiania, Agder​

Til: President Manuel Rodriguez
Palacio de Miraflores,
2190 Avenida de la Republica
Fortaleza Real, Terrastania, Frescania

Fra: Queen Inger Lise
Kristiania, Agderike

* * * * *​

28. Desember 1952

Dear Mr President,

Having been the newly elected Queen of my country, although as disputed as these events have transpired, I have had the privilege of inheriting or at the very least being party to the various items of the previous family because I now live in this Royal Palace. Of course this is much to the displeasure of the family that still resides here. This is not my family, but I did manage to stumble upon your correspondence with Haakon V. The letters were in his study and I could not help myself but to read them. It can be quite interesting to look into the mind of the former leader of this country. The letters seem heartfelt and genuine and it's his own debates with democracy, the republic and his people that have me so infatuated with his relationship with you, Mr. President, and of course your own nation's interest in the North.

I can't help but think that I am involved in a chess match or in a storybook that I am only a character in. Such is the nature of coming into being of something so new to me.

Clearly there was a deeper relationship between Haakon and yourself than any one else ever knew. I only hope I can rekindle this. I think it would be important to the development of my own leadership and ultimately my own thoughts on international politics. I desire to travel to meet you. Clearly Fortaleza Real meant a lot to the last King here. I can only hope that it can mean something to me too.

Med Vennlig Hilsen,
Queen Inger Lise

Lovisa
​

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