The History of the Independent State of Caledon
(as posted to the Caledon Forums in April 2007)
The Beginning:
Caledon’s Independence Day – and opening on the grid – was 26 February 06.
We were just one tiny bit of land in a sea far to the West of the rest of the known world at that time. A few residents formed a village near the Caledon telehub’s present location, but the land was mostly wild.
The owner’s antiques company, West Trade Imports LTD, made more than enough to cover expenses and initially it was thought that perhaps the State of Caledon would always remain this way, small and partially wild. At this time the grid had approximately 2000 concurrent people online during busy times – how many else would care to partake in an anachronistic, 19th century world?
It turned out that a *lot* of people cared. Within a couple weeks, there was a waiting list for Caledon land over 50 avatars long. A number of people on the waiting list gathered together offering $L in advance, and insisted on a second sim. Thus, Caledon II came to exist about a month later. It didn’t even scratch the burgeoning demand.
Explosive Growth:
Caledon Highlands followed, then Port Caledon, Tamrannoch, Caledon on Sea, the Moors and the Cay. Excessively rapid growth was a fear, as the community evolved from a very tiny, intimate village to that of a proud but small micronation.
Caledon’s capital, Victoria City came next, and soon became the focal point of new arrivals in Caledon. With it: the duchys: Lionsgate, Carntaigh, Primverness and Loch Avie – wild places that greatly benefited the small towns and manoral countryside. Caledon Mayfair was the last addition before a huge change in grid service charges came about. More lands are on the way.
On the Global Stage:
Early Discoveries.
Back while Caledon was still very small (March 06), the mercantile ship Venture was sent to the Mainland, to sell trinkets and make contact with the natives. This is the ship one may still find in Port Caledon on the wharf.
Foreign Relations:
Naturally, some saber-rattling and the usual gunboat diplomacy characterised Caledon’s relations with other nations on the grid.
The older, Bavarian nation-state of Neualtenburg has long been compared to Caledon. Of course, questions of relative strength and stability naturally arose. This was answered by Caledon in the form of an offer of annexation, lock, stock, and barrel, of all that Old Neualtenburg was.
Very mysteriously, it seemed that that most (but not all!) Neualtenburgers did not care for our generous offer! In Caledon, many warships were constructed and talk of “Empiah!” raised to fever-pitch, but it was not to be. Neualtenburg had its own path to follow apart from Caledon, and through a process best described by their own citizens, divided into two parts. These were Port Neualtenburg, which Neualtenburg’s original founders established on the Mainland, and Confederation of Democratic Sims, which was the confederation which formed from the residents that remained. The historic “Neualtenburg” name is recognized to be belonging to the original founders of Neualtenburg.
The State of Caledon maintains a friendly peace, and sometimes rivalry, with both of them. Unless of course you are suddenly awakened by a call to arms, in which case man your station, remember your training, and prepare for our finest hour!
Age of Exploration:
Knowledge and contact with the Mainland proper was sporadic until January 07, when a number of our intrepid Explorers went to document the wild, uncharted, culturally distant land of scantily clad natives. You can read about their adventures here:
http://www.frontierhorizon.blogspot.com/
http://explorerjusty.livejournal.com/
http://procroyalsoc.blogspot.com/
http://thegalloper.blogspot.com/
http://liarothschild.livejournal.com/
http://natachachernov.blogspot.com/2007/01/glorious-departure-of-caledon.html
Colonial Expansion?
Our shipwrights are preparing for even grander missions in the future, should we continue to receive positive reports. Plans for futher exploration to the mainland, a small garrison and colony on foreign shores are not out of the question.
Government.
Caledon is a constitutional Monarchy with figurehead royalty, and has an Aristocratic landed gentry, which is in a way the real government. The State of Caledon continues forward by the will of the people, for if nobody stayed the region would not survive economically.
More specifically though, the sim owner (Desmond Shang, myself) is the Guvnah. Who is willing to listen to troubles before any insurrection starts! Simply drop a notecard to the Guvnah, be ye visitor or resident, landed Aristocracy or no, if there are issues.
The Titled and the Royals.
Once upon a time, Caledon was ruled by Stewards. A much smaller nation then, we all knew each other, and each resident could become the Steward of Caledon in turns.
With our explosive growth, however, times rapidly changed. Many citizens turned down the honour, for fear of presiding over tens of thousands of USD worth of regions, and making a mistake. Also, reign over Caledon was not a duty easily borne – the citizenry and émigrés had many, many needs. Lastly, a Steward had such power that they could raze every single object and avatar in Caledon in just minutes flat. Not a power to be passed lightly to anyone, simply by virtue of brief residency!
Thus the Age of Stewards ended. Those that were Stewards are now titled Royalty, forever remembered for their service. This includes Khashai Steinbeck, First Steward of Caledon, Sir Gerami Fizz, Princesa Yuriko Muromachi, and finally, Vicereine Kamilah Hauptmann. The Vicereine, through fairness, use of her wit, and general friendliness and service to the nation, has retained her Estate Powers from her former title as Last Steward of Caledon. Should anyone be griefing citizen or visitor alike, she may be called upon to defend you.
Caledon has a variety of other titled folk, and these titles are of two natures. Some are historic titles, and others are tied to land and estates in Caledon.
For instance, the Baron of Bauerhoff Gottfried Eusebio, or Baroness de Caledon Amber Palowaksi have historic titles predating the formation of the Duchys in Caledon. Some perhaps do not claim historic titles, but could (should?) and modestly call themselves custodians of the past. The Lady Pym Sartre of historic Caledon Castle is a prime example of such.
The four duchys of Caledon, Lionsgate, Carntaigh, Primverness and Loch Avie carry title with control of the regions, and are officially recognised. Within their boundaries, the controlling Duke or Duchess of each region holds full estate powers.
Knights of Caledon: On rare occasion, someone does something that is so remarkable, and so utterly beyond compensation or remuneration that they are Knighted. So far we have two Knights: Ms Ordinal Malaprop for the mechanism of our landmark Caledon Trolley, an engineering feat that was greater in value of effort than all the Caledon lands combined were worth at the time. Also, Ms Leosanni Somme, for rallying the Nation in the cause of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Because of her efforts, the State of Caledon raised thousands of USD for the very real fight against cancer.
Estate Managers.
Caledon generally has eight to ten estate managers who keep an eye on things for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. Some, like Kamilah are mentioned above are known to all. Others prefer to be helpful only if the need arises, or nobody else is on. If you are being harassed, need a region restarted, see a huge mess that a visitor made, or otherwise need an Estate Manager send a call out on the Independent State of Caledon group messaging channel. If anyone is on, they will respond, identify themselves, and help you.
Please note that Estate Managers are there to help, are trusted friends and are NOT paid in any way. They have little time or interest in your interpersonal dealings. If anything isn’t very clear-cut, an estate manager may defer the entire issue to the Guvnah (me, Desmond Shang) for later. Their time is valuable and they are volunteers. Please do not abuse them.
Factbook and Census Information:
Information varies as we grow and change, but we try to keep up here:
http://slhistory.org/index.php/Independent_State_of_Caledon
Screenshots and Images:
Much of the early days of Caledon can be seen in these pictures, as well as events, and these images will rapidly give you an idea of the enthusiasm that pervades residents and visitors alike:
http://www.sluniverse.com/pics/Default.aspx?Search=caledon
A VERY incomplete list of Related Blogs and Press Mentions in the First and Second Life Spheres:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16319145.htmFirst life article: Mercury News
http://www.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2006/08/taking_a_chance.htmlSL Herald
http://www.yesweekly.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=44&ArticleID=1520&TM=46707.49First Life article: yesweekly.com
http://slnatalia.blogspot.com/2007/01/day-102-eliza-visits-caledon.htmlNatalia’s blog (fashion)
http://ccgi.firewyre.force9.co.uk/brassgoggles/?p=291Steampunk blog
http://ordinalmalaprop.com/engine/Ordinal Malaprop’s blog
http://edward-pearse.livejournal.com/Edward Pearse’s blog
http://baralier.livejournal.com/359823.htmlBarbalier blog
http://www.lovelymachine.com/blog/2006/05/steam.htmlLovely Machine blog
http://www.jasonpettus.com/inthegrid/2006/12/third_life_my_sordid_steampunk.htmlIn the Grid blog
http://secondlife.com/newsletter/2006_04/Second Life Newsletter
http://infoisland.org/2006/12/03/info-island-this-week-adventures-in-caledon-a-new-science-center-exhibit-and-marie-antoinette-the-teen-queen/Library location
http://republika.pl/steampunk/chrono02.htmlSteampunk listing
http://www.slatenight.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=40SL Late Night mention
