On this day....

[ebony14]

One hundred forty-nine years ago, letters were distributed in San Francisco announcing the following:

At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby order and direct the representatives of the different States of the Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and abroad, in our stability and integrity.


NORTON I, Emperor of the United States

EDIT: It occurs to me that this time next year, being the 150th anniversary of Norton I's coronation, would be an excellent time for a party. And since the 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I could combine the two, into a party where you come as a pirate or as a wacky, self-proclaimed monarch of America. And it probably would be awesome. Must remember to think about this in 11 months or so....

Comments

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

And I have the Shadowfist card of Emperor Norton I, too. It was in the last expansion I bought, Sixguns and Shuriken. :)

[copperwolf.livejournal.com]

Prompted by your post, I have just read about Emperor Norton on Wikipedia. What an interesting fellow.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

Don't try to print your own money, though. While he got away with it, I doubt you would.

As for a party....you might have something there. Although you may want to plan for something expandable into a convention; I suspect it will catch on better then you think.

[drexplosivo.livejournal.com]

Interesting true fact: One of Norton's proclaimations was that a bridge should be built with all haste connecting S.F with "her neighbor, Oakland" for the good of commerce and transit. That bridge was built and is called the ay Bridge today. S.F. Started a petition a few years ago to have the bridge named the "Emperor Norton Bay Bridge". Because of the weird way highway funding works here, both cities have to agree to a naming before the state can make the name change.

Oakland refused. On the grounds that "Norton never did anything for us." Seriously. Fuck Oakland.

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

Morons. I bet they call it "Frisco" too. (Norton's first proclamation was that anyone calling San Francisco "Frisco" was to be fined $20, payable to the Emperor.)

He also came up with the United Nations.