Kingdom of Northumbria (1983: Doomsday)

Doomsday
The English counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham are hit by three nuclear explosions


 * one 200 Kiloton bomb on Newcastle
 * one 200 Kiloton bomb on Sunderland
 * one 100 Kiloton bomb on Durham

Other tactical nuclear weapons (10KT) fell on military bases in and around the area:


 * RAF Boulmer
 * RAF Ouston - shared with British Army
 * The Otterburn training range

Aftermath
Although the outright death toll was well over 1 million, with the majority of the nuclear explosions taking place in the Tyne and Wear valleys the radioactive fallout from the blasts to the majority of the area is greatly reduced.

Contact with the rest of the UK was lost immediately, however within one month contact had been made with areas running from Berwick Upon Tweed in the north to the outskirts of the north Tyne Valley and up to the tops of the Pennines.

With the collapse of the UK government the 10th Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Algernon Percy, in his capacity as the Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, began to organize a basic police and military force to try to regain order.

On the 25th Septmeber 1983, he sent out messengers (including his two sons Henry and Ralph) on horses to every nearby towns carrying a notice that anyone with any military service (including national service), police service, or experience that may be useful (gamekeepers, etc, even people trained in karate/judo) irregardless of age to report to Alnwick castle by the 1st October 1983.

In total 874 men and 73 women arrived in Alnwick, they ranged in age from 15 year old military cadets to seventeen world war I veterns.

The new recruits were included into the castle military volunteers, armed from the castle armoury and divided into three divisions of 250 personnel they were sent out into the Northumberland countryside to maintain order in the name of the Duke.

The Earl of Northumberland's main residence is at Alnwick Castle. However due to his exposure to the radioactive fallout he died due to lung cancer on 11th October 1984 and was succeeded by his son Henry Alan Walter Richard Percy.

On the January 22nd 1990, Henry, the 11th Duke, announces the resumption of the Scoring of the Hales.

The Scoring the Hales is the name of a large scale shrovetide football match played yearly in Alnwick, Northumberland. Once a street contest, it has now moved to a field named The Pasture across the River Aln from Alnwick Castle. The match involves about 150 men on either side and is a contest between the parishes of St Michael and St Paul. The goals are decorated with greenery and stand about 400 yards apart.

The game starts with the ball being sent over the Barbican of the Castle to the crowd assembled below. It was then kicked through the streets of the town. The game goes towards Bondgate Tower and from there to the pastures.

Nowadays the ball is fetched from the castle in procession, preceded by the King of Northumbria's piper. The game is won by whichever team is first to score 2 "hales" or goals, after which the ball is carried to the river and thrown in. Whoever manages to get it out at the far side of the river is allowed to keep the ball, but they have to swim the River Aln to get it.

Kings of Northumbria
Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland renamed himself Henry I, King of Northumbria on 21st November 1993, upon this announcement he declared the former counties of Northumberland and also non-radiated parts of Tyne and Wear to become the Kingdom of Northumbria, regaining the name for the area that had been used from 654 - 954 AD.

He declared that a parliament would be formed based at Bamburgh Castle on the North Sea coast.

King Henry died suddenly in his sleep on 31st October 1995, without advance medical technology it is assumed that he had a stroke. He was succeeded by his younger brother Ralph George Algernon Percy who became King George I of Northumbria.

In 1979, the then Lord Ralph Percy married Isobel Jane Richard, and with her has had four children:


 * Princess Catherine Sarah Percy (b. 23 June 1982 - d. 25th Jan 2006 - died in fall from horse)
 * Crown Prince George Dominic Percy (b. 4 May 1984)
 * Princess Melissa Jane Percy (b. 20 May 1987)
 * Prince Max Ralph Percy (b. 26 May 1990)

Parliament
The Northumbrian Parliament is based on the Anglo-saxon Witenagemot or Witain.

It is based on 20 members (22 as of 6th May 2011) which are elected (as members of parliament) and take the title thaine,

These areas which are represented by Thaines are :


 * Berwick-upon-Tweed - James Johnstone
 * Allendale - Michael King
 * Acomb - Hillary Marham
 * Amble - Matthew Potts
 * Alnwick - Harold Sperritt
 * Belford - William Robson
 * Carlisle - Election to be held on 6th May 2011
 * Chevington - Michael Charlton
 * Ellington - Emily Dodds
 * Felton - Jenny Maclare
 * Rothbury - Alexander Armstrong
 * Lesbury - Paul Elliot
 * Longhoughton - John Charlton
 * Longframlington - Peter Robson
 * Newton-on-the-Moor - Jackson Armstrong
 * Morpeth - Alexander Hall
 * Ord - Anthony Graham
 * Ponteland - Karl Ayre
 * Shilbottle - Abigail Townsend
 * Warkworth - Aaron Jones
 * Widderington - Colin Lambton
 * Workington - Election to be held on 6th May 2011

On the 6th of May 2011 two new members of the Witain will be elected from the former Rheged Co-Operative, these members will come from Carlisle and Workington.

These Thaines along with the King (who has the deciding vote), and most senior male member of the royal family (currently the Crown Prince George)- these are the secular side of the Witain

There are also 10 members elected from the church, usually Bishops or Arch-bishops but occasionally local vicars.

Elections of thaines are held every 4 years on the 1st Sunday of June, every person in the kingdom can vote for his or her local thaine as long as:
 * They are over 18 years old.
 * They have full mental faculties.
 * They have served one year or more in local service (military, emergency services, unpaid public service work such as road building etc.)

NEWS
2010 News

January 2011

After talks between the Northumbria Witain and the Chamberhouse of Ur Alba, the border between the two countries has been set as the old English/Scottish Border. The Witain announces that thye expect that Ur Alba will occupy the land to the north sometime this year.

29th January 2011

Military leaders from Ur Alba announce they have taken control of the towns of Selkirk, Kelso, Hawick and Jedbugh and have informed the Northumbrian Witian that they intend to be in Coldstream in mid February to set up a border crossing point.

22nd February 2011- Rheged possibly joining Northumbria

In a surprise move the Northumbria Witain has been approached by the representatives of the Rheged Co-Operative with the possibility of merging Rheged into Northumbria. The Witain agrees that it is a interesting idea however they request that if Rheged wishes to join Northumbria the people of Rheged must vote to join Northumbria and the decision must not be made by 8 representatives.

Rheged agrees to this and announces that a referendum on joining Northumbria will be held on March 11th 2011.

26th February 2011

King George announces that the Witain has awarded a license to crenallate for new castles at Rochester, Kielder, Kilham, Crookham and Scremerston and a rebuild of the existing Castle at Norham. This is in response to Ur Alba setting up a border crossing. There are also plans that if Rheged becomes part of Northumbria that new Castles at Carlisle, Catlowdy, Netherby and Longtown will also be built.

12th March 2011, 11am : Referendum results announced in Rheged

The results have been announced, of a population 12,000 people in Rheged 8,426 people registered to vote, the vote results are as follows:

Do you wish for the Rheged Co-Operative to become part of the Kingdom of Northumbria:
 * Yes - 5,972
 * No - 2,365
 * Spoiled ballot papers - 89

The referendum is passed with over 70% of votes coming back Yes it is planned that Rheged will become part of the Kingdom of Northumbria by mid May 2011

18th April 2011

With the increased military build up evendent in Ur Alba, the Northumbrian Army steps up its military readyness and moves troops to the border with Ur Alba.

27th April 2011

With the official declaration of war between the Celtic Alliance and Ur Alba, the Northumbrian Army has moved almost all it's troops to the border, the Rheged militia have been mobalised to guard the border also. Cleveland has sent three divisions of the Royal Cleveland Territorial Army north to help with the guarding of the border.

6th July 2011

After agreements with the OBN nations of Cleveland, Woodbridge and Essex an attack will occur on the TBA base at Rutland Water, Northumbria will send 500 troops. The expected attack will happen in late August.

War with Ur Alba
The Ur Alba War

2nd May 2011

After talks with the Celtic Alliance Government and Military, the Kingdom of Northumbria and the Kingdom of Cleveland have signed an agreement with the CA to move into Ur Alba territories with the intention of taking the towns of Annan in the west and Kelso in the east from the Ur Alba military.

The Rheged Militia and the Northumbrian Army will take Annan and the Northumbrian Army and the Royal Cleveland Territorial Army will take Kelso

4th May 2011

Both the port town of Annan and the town of Kelso fell to allied troops after the surrender of remaining Ur Alba troops. However they were not taken lightly with the following casulties.


 * Northumbrian Army: Dead - 4, Injured - 12
 * Rheged Militia: Dead - 1, Injured - 9
 * Royal Cleveland Territorial Army (RCTA): Dead - 1, Injured - 27

9th May 2011

Final casulty reports have been announced with the Northumbrian Army loosing 12 troops and injured 72 and the Rheged Militia lost 22 troops and had 29 injured.

Death of Queen Isobel - 30th March 2011
The Witain of Northumbria is saddened to report that last night after evening dinner, Queen Isobel Jane Percy, wife of King George, suffered a suspected massive stroke, although medical care was administered within 30 minutes of her collapse she did not regain consciousness and died shortly after 10pm with her husband King George and youngest child Prince Max at her side. Northumbria has entered an official one week period of mourning, state funeral detail will follow.

Crown Prince George and his wife Queen Zara of Cleveland are returning to Alnwick Castle as soon as possible.

31st March 2011

The first details of the state funeral for Queen Isobel have been announced, the funeral will take place on Monday 4th April at Alnwick Castle, all members of the Northumbrian and Cleveish royal families will be present. She will be laid to rest in the chapel in Alwick Castle.

4th April 2011

Queen Isobel of Northumbria has been laid to rest in the chapel of Alnwick castle, present at the funeral were the entire royal families of both Northumbria and Cleveland, the former leaders of Rheged, the Procurator of the Westmorland and Furness Alliance, representatives of Ur Alba and the Celtic Alliance (who were seated separately to avoid conflict) and representatives from the OBN.

Rheged joins the Kingdom of Northumbria
The Rheged Co-Operative has voted to become part of the Kingdom of Northumbria, Rheged will elect two new members of the Northumbrian Witain, the new members will represent the towns of Carlisle and Workington, elections are to take place on the 6th of May and Rheged will become a full part of the Kingdom of Northumbria on Monday 9th of May.

6th May 2011

The former territory of Rheged has elected two new members of the Northumbrian Witain


 * Carlisle - Francine Marshall.
 * Workington - Michael Barker.

They will take there seats in the next meeting of the Witain on the 9th of May.

Unification of the Kingdoms of Northumbria and Cleveland
On the 22nd April 2007 it was announced that Crown Prince of Northumbria, George Dominic Percy is dating the Crown Princess Zara of Cleveland. On the 5th August 2008 it was announced that the Crown Prince of Northumbria, George Dominic Percy is engaged to the Crown Princess Zara of Cleveland. The wedding date was set for 4th November 2009. Prince Max Percy (Crown Prince George's younger brother) was best man.

This wedding and any children issuing from the marriage will unite the Kingdoms of Northumbria and Cleveland. it has been announced that the primogeniture rule (male children having right of rule over older female siblings) has been abolished and the eldest child (no matter the sex) will rule both the kingdom of Northumbria and Cleveland.

The wedding took place at Richmond Castle. Upon the accession of the then King George and Queen Zara to their respective thrones the kingdoms shall unite under the name of the United Kingdoms of Northumbria and Cleveland or UKNC

Upon the accession of the first child of Zara and George (Prince Michael James George Percy) to both thrones, the Kingdoms unite as one Kingdom and will change their names to the Kingdom of Albion.

On New Years Day 2010 it was announced from the Royal Palace of Wynyard that the Crown Princess Zara and her husband Crown Prince George are expecting their first child, it is expected to be born mid August.

15th May 2010 it is annouced that Princess Regent Zara is pregnant with Identical twin boys.

9th August 2010, as 4.13am Princess Regent Zara, accompanied by Crown Prince George attended James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. At 4.42pm Princess Regent Zara gave birth to a baby boy (wieghing 5 pounds 6 ounces) called Michael James George Percy and at 4.57pm she gave birth to another baby boy (5 pounds 2 ounces) called Edward Henry John Percy. Both boys are healthy.

On the 1st of Januray 2011 Princess Regent Zara comes to the throne of the Kingdom of Cleveland, she was crowned on the 15th January 2011. The entire Northumbria Royal family were in attendance.

Contact
By the late 1990's radio signals coming from Scotland are picked up in the north of the kingdom, these signals are from the Celtic Alliance (1983: Doomsday) and are general music stations as such no direct radio contact is made.

In 2004 a small group of fishing vessels make port in Alnwick, these fishing vessels are from a Kingdom to the south of the nuclear wasteland of the Tyne and Wear valleys known as the Kingdom of Cleveland (1983: Doomsday) ruled by Queen Anne II oldest child of the former Queen of the UK Elizabeth II (who was King Henry's godmother)

In late 2008 a joint mission from the Kingdoms of Cleveland and Northumbria contacted the Celtic Alliance (1983: Doomsday) for the development of trade between the two areas.

Military
Army

The Northumbrian Royal Army (NRA) is responsible for protecting settlements and raider prevention from the border regions of the former county of Cumbria.

The armed forces consist of:
 * one unit of Housecarls, the most elite unit consisting of 120 men armed with heavy two handed axes and 9mm handguns, tasked with protecting the King, royal family and Members of Parliament.
 * Four units of heavy cavalry on Clydesdale and Shire Horses, armed with 5 foot broadswords, each unit containing 50 men.
 * Three units of light cavalry, riding smaller former hunting horses armed with short swords, each unit containing 50 men.
 * Six units of archers, armed with crossbows and longbows, with 9mm sidearms and small knifes, each unit containing 150 men.
 * Five units of general infantry, armed with basic rifles, pikes, bilhooks and knives, each unit consists of 200 men.
 * One unit of artillery, armed with five 150mm howitzers salvaged from Otterburn military ranges.

Navy

The Northumbrian Royal Navy (NRN) is limited to small inshore boats and converted trawlers and there operational capability depends on the availability of diesel which is in short supply. Plans are underway to buy several small steam vessels from Cleveland

Airforce

The Northumbrian Royal Airforce (NRAF) is very small consisting of several small Cessna airplanes and one Sea King air rescue helicopter (formally based at RAF Boulmer however was on a sea rescue mission at the point of DD) flights are limited due to lack of fuel.

Militia

Every able bodied citizen of Northumbria aged 19 to 45 are part of the Northumbria Militia (like the ATL Swiss militia), at the age of 18 every citizen is given compulsory 3 months training in weapons and military tactics. All members of the Northumbria Militia provide their own weaponry, however most are small arms such as pistols, some people only have home made bils or pikes. It is estimated that there are 65,000 people in the Northumbria Militia.

In 2009 members of the Royal Cleveland Territorial Army came to Northumbria to train the Northumbria Militia and turn it into the Royal Northumbrian Territorial Army which should be created in mid 2011

Rheged Militia

With the incorporation of Rheged into the Kingdom of Northumbria in 2011, the Rheged Militia became part of the Northumbrian Army. It is expected that it will become it's own seperate division in the Royal Northumbrian Territorial Army.

Transport
In 2009 the government of the Kingdom of Northumbria places an order for five new coal powered locomotives from a loco works in Darlington in the Kingdom of Cleveland, they will be completed between early 2011 and late 2011.

One locomotive has been certified for service with Northumbrian Railways


 * 60170 - Kingdom of Northumbria - Certified January 2011

Four more locomotives are still being built for Northumbrian Railways, they will be completed between mid 2011 and late 2013.


 * 60171 - King George - Completed February 2011, certification due by June 2011.
 * 60172 - Provisionally named Lindisfarne Abbey - Under construction, due for completion July 2011.
 * 60173 - Provisionally named Bamburgh Castle - Under construction, due for completion September 2011.
 * 60174 - Provisionally named Alnwick Castle - Under construction, due for completion December 2011.

Bilton loco works

In late 2010 engineers from the Kingdom of Cleveland will travel north to Northumbria to set up another locomotive building works in Bilton near Alnwick, the building was completed in early October 2010, machinery fully installed by December 2010 and was ready for the arrival of Northumbria's first new locomotive (Kingdom of Northumbria) in January 2011.

The new Loco works at Bilton will begin the manufacture of a modified version of the M7 class tank engine from 1911 in mid 2011. The first three produced will go the Cleveland in thanks for setting the works up.

The three new Tank engines will be called:


 * 125 - Derwent
 * 126 - Ouse
 * 127 - Humber