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British Empire

2016-09-22T17:14:20Z

94.15.114.252: /* The Second British Empire */

{{Era|AC3|AC3L|AC4|ACRG|ACS|ACP|3book|4book|Ubook|Brahman|UW}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Revamp}}
{{Faction infobox
|name = British Empire
|image = Flag of the United Kingdom.png
|founder = [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]]
|leader = Monarch of the United Kingdom
|headquarters = [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|related = [[East India Company]] [[Royal African Company]] [[British Army]] [[Royal Navy]] [[Templars]]
|religion = {{Wiki|Anglicanism}}
|formed = 1583
|collapsed = 1997
|hidea =
|notable = [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] [[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]}}
The '''British Empire''' comprised the territories, colonies, protectorates, mandates, dominions and other territories ruled or administered by the [[United Kingdom]] during the 18th to 20th century.

==The English Empire==
[[File:AC4 Kingston.png|250px|thumb|left|Overlook of Kingston]]
The English Empire's origins began with the discovery of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] during the [[Age of Discovery]]. Several [[Europe]]an countries, including England, began to establish colonies and protectorates overseas in an attempt to increase their power globally.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

By the 18th century, England held significant possessions in North America. Among the largest of these was a collection of colonies known as the [[United States|Thirteen Colonies]]. Alongside this, England controlled much of coastal [[Canada]], including Nova Scotia.<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref> In the [[Caribbean]], the Kingdom of England held a number of significant portly cities including [[Kingston]] and [[Nassau]]. The English also ruled over [[Belize]],<ref name="AC3"/> the [[Cayman Islands]], and [[Barbados]], where [[Stede Bonnet]] lived as a moderately wealthy land-owner.<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> [[Trinidad]], the birthplace of future pirate and [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Adéwalé]], was also an English procession.<ref>''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - [[Freedom Cry]]''</ref>

==The First British Empire==
===The Golden Age of Piracy and the War of Spanish Succession===
The "British" Empire was formed in 1707, with the unification of the kingdoms of Scotland and England, who became the Kingdom of Great Britain. At this time, the British Empire was at war with the [[Spain|Spanish]] and [[France|French Empires]] over the disputed [[War of the Spanish Succession|Spanish throne]]. The British used this as a way of further expanding their empire through territorial disputes across the Americas.<ref name="AC4" />

[[File:We Demand A Parlay 1.png|250px|thumb|British soldiers landing in Nassau]]
During the war most countries involved, including Great Britain, made extensive use of [[privateer]]s to harass enemy shipping routes. With the coming of peace in 1715, many privateers were left without gainful employment, and so resorted to [[piracy]] in order to survive. It is due to this that the period became known as the "Golden Age of Piracy". The Empire faced intense pirate attacks and the establishment of a pirate republic in Nassau in 1713.<ref name="AC4" />

The increasing power of the Pirate Republic prompted the British to begin its war on piracy in 1718, by re-establishing control in Nassau and appointing [[Woodes Rogers]] the Governor of the Bahamas. Prior to coming to the West Indies, Woodes went to [[Madagascar]], which was a part of the British Empire at the time, where he offered the pirates in the region a Royal Pardon where they could return to England in dispute or be hanged. In the Nassau, he was given the task of offering the pirates a pardon in exchange for them to stop their criminal activities. By 1722, Rogers and several pirate hunters, such as [[Benjamin Hornigold]], were able to effectively put a stop to piracy in the Caribbean.<ref name="AC4" />

===The Seven Years' War===
[[File:ACRG_Halifax.png|250px|thumb|left|Overlook of Halifax]]
Prior to the war, the cities of [[Albany]], [[New York City|New York]], and [[Halifax]], were controlled by the British along with minor settlements including [[Greystone]], [[Lock Cliff]] and [[St. Nicolas]]. Following the war, the Empire expanded its holdings by taking possession of the [[River Valley]] and [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]], resulting in towns and cities including [[St. John's]], [[Percé]] and [[St. Anthony]], as well as [[Le Bras-du-Seigneur]] and [[Coeur-de-l'hiver]] falling into British hands. The British also assumed control of [[Florida]], a number of islands in the Caribbean, and territories in [[India]].<ref name="ACRG" />

During the [[Seven Years' War]], the British Empire, alongside its allies, who included [[Portugal]], a number of Germanic states, and the [[Iroquois]], faced a large coalition of powers, including France, [[Austria]], [[Russia]], and Spain. The war occurred due to a number of factors, the primary reason being British attempts to expand further into Canada, which was primarily controlled by France at the time, and the Caribbean which was divided between Europe's major powers, with Spain possessing the most holdings there.<ref name="ACRG" />

The British fought against the French across the northern border of the American colonies, primarily in the River Valley and the North Atlantic. Amongst those fighting for or alongside the British were [[Shay Cormac]], General [[Edward Braddock]], [[George Washington]] and [[John Pitcairn]] as well as [[William Johnson]], Colonel [[George Monro]] and Captain [[James Cook]].<ref name="ACRG" />

The [[Royal Navy]]'s strength resulted in the French being cut off from their colonies, and ultimately led to a swift takeover of France's North American territories, resulting in the transfer of sovereignty of all French possessions in the North Atlantic and the River Valley to the British. The [[Templars|Templar Order]] was also active in New York, systematically disposing of [[Assassins|Assassin]]-affiliated [[gangs]].<ref name="ACRG" />

Striving for control and order, King George II of Great Britain's goals were in line with the aims of the Templar Order. As a result, the British received the backing of the Order and ultimately won the war. Despite this, the victory had led to increased disparity in the Thirteen Colonies, as a result of high taxation levied by King George in order to pay for the war.<ref name="AC3" />

===Thirteen Colonies===
[[File:Welcome to Boston 1.png|thumb|250px|Overlook of Boston's docks]]
During the mid 18th century, the British Empire faced a [[American Revolution|rebellion]] of its colonies in North America, the Thirteen Colonies following the [[French and Indian War]]. The Thirteen Colonies were taxed heavily and forced to provide soldiers for the war.<ref name="AC3" />

As a result, British Americans grew dissatisfied with the rights they were given by their sovereign state. This intensified with the [[Boston Tea Party]], [[Boston Massacre]] and the [[Battles of Lexington and Concord]] which started the [[American Revolutionary War]] between the Thirteen Colonies and the British Empire.<ref name="AC3" />

While the British maintained the upper hand during most of the conflict, she faced opposition from a number of European colonial powers such as Spain, France and the [[Netherlands]] who supported the Thirteen Colonies so to weaken Britain's position in Europe. Britain came under fear of the loss of other colonies and protectorates in Canada, Europe and India.<ref name="AC3" />

The [[Continental Army]] under leadership of Commander George Washington eventually emerged victorious, and the colonies achieved their independence after the {{Wiki|Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris}}, resulting in the foundation of the United States. The loss of the Thirteen Colonies marked the end of the First British Empire.<ref name="AC3" />

==The Second British Empire==
===War against French Empire===
In 1803, the [[French Empire]], started to take possession of the neighboring areas in [[Europe]]. However, the British Empire began to form a [[British Army|military]] resistance alongside their allies in order to stop the [[French Army]] advance.

A remarkable battle that took place during this [[Napoleonic Wars|conflict]], was the {{Wiki|Battle of Trafalgar}} in 1805, when {{Wiki|Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Admiral Horatio Nelson}} led the [[Royal Navy]] to defend the [[United Kingdom]] from [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s [[French Navy]].

===Company rule in India===
During the early 19th century, the British Empire started expand into India and were present during [[Ranjit Singh]]'s reign as Maharaja of the newly founded [[Sikh Empire]], maintaining a good relationship with the Sikhs for several years.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brahman]]''</ref>

===Victorian Era===
{{Main|Victorian era}}
By the [[Victorian era]], marked by the reign of [[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]], the British Empire reached its apex - standing as the largest empire in human history. During this period the United Kingdom faced the [[Industrial Revolution]], in which a series of technological advances across the British Empire resulted in the United Kingdom becoming the foremost industrialized state in the world, with significant technological developments taking place across various fields including medicine and communication.<ref name="ACS walkthrough" />

==References==
{{GalleryBox|British Empire}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Former empires]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]

British Empire

2016-09-22T17:01:47Z

94.15.114.252: /* Thirteen Colonies */ No such thing as Americans before the revolutionary war.

{{Era|AC3|AC3L|AC4|ACRG|ACS|ACP|3book|4book|Ubook|Brahman|UW}}
{{WP-REAL}}
{{Revamp}}
{{Faction infobox
|name = British Empire
|image = Flag of the United Kingdom.png
|founder = [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]]
|leader = Monarch of the United Kingdom
|headquarters = [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]
|related = [[East India Company]] [[Royal African Company]] [[British Army]] [[Royal Navy]] [[Templars]]
|religion = {{Wiki|Anglicanism}}
|formed = 1583
|collapsed = 1997
|hidea =
|notable = [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] [[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]}}
The '''British Empire''' comprised the territories, colonies, protectorates, mandates, dominions and other territories ruled or administered by the [[United Kingdom]] during the 18th to 20th century.

==The English Empire==
[[File:AC4 Kingston.png|250px|thumb|left|Overlook of Kingston]]
The English Empire's origins began with the discovery of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] during the [[Age of Discovery]]. Several [[Europe]]an countries, including England, began to establish colonies and protectorates overseas in an attempt to increase their power globally.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

By the 18th century, England held significant possessions in North America. Among the largest of these was a collection of colonies known as the [[United States|Thirteen Colonies]]. Alongside this, England controlled much of coastal [[Canada]], including Nova Scotia.<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref> In the [[Caribbean]], the Kingdom of England held a number of significant portly cities including [[Kingston]] and [[Nassau]]. The English also ruled over [[Belize]],<ref name="AC3"/> the [[Cayman Islands]], and [[Barbados]], where [[Stede Bonnet]] lived as a moderately wealthy land-owner.<ref name="AC4">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> [[Trinidad]], the birthplace of future pirate and [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Adéwalé]], was also a British procession.<ref>''Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - [[Freedom Cry]]''</ref>

==The First British Empire==
===The Golden Age of Piracy and the War of Spanish Succession===
The "British" Empire was formed in 1707, with the unification of the kingdoms of Scotland and England,who became the Kingdom of Great Britain. At this time, the British Empire was at war with the [[Spain|Spanish]] and [[France|French Empires]] over the disputed [[War of the Spanish Succession|Spanish throne]]. The British used this as a way of further expanding their empire through territorial disputes across the Americas.<ref name="AC4"/>

[[File:We Demand A Parlay 1.png|250px|thumb|British soldiers landing in Nassau]]
During the war most countries involved, including Great Britain, made extensive use of [[privateer]]s to harass enemy shipping routes. With the coming of peace in 1715, many privateers were left without gainful employment, and so resorted to [[piracy]] in order to survive. It is due to this that the period became known as the "Golden Age of Piracy". The Empire faced intense pirate attacks and the establishment of a pirate republic in Nassau in 1713.<ref name="AC4"/>

The increasing power of the Pirate Republic prompted the British to begin its war on piracy in 1718, by re-establishing control in Nassau and appointing [[Woodes Rogers]] the Governor of the Bahamas. Prior to coming to the West Indies, Woodes went to [[Madagascar]], which was a part of the British Empire at the time, where he offered the pirates in the region a Royal Pardon where they could return to England in dispute or be hanged. In the Nassau, he was given the task of offering the pirates a pardon in exchange for them to stop their criminal activities. By 1722, Rogers and several pirate hunters, such as [[Benjamin Hornigold]], were able to effectively put a stop to piracy in the Caribbean.<ref name="AC4"/>

===The Seven Years' War===
[[File:ACRG_Halifax.png|250px|thumb|left|Overlook of Halifax]]
Prior to the war, the cities of [[Albany]], [[New York City|New York]], and [[Halifax]], were controlled by the British along with minor settlements including [[Greystone]], [[Lock Cliff]] and [[St. Nicolas]]. Following the war, the Empire expanded its holdings by taking possession of the [[River Valley]] and [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]], resulting in towns and cities including [[St. John's]], [[Percé]] and [[St. Anthony]], as well as [[Le Bras-du-Seigneur]] and [[Coeur-de-l'hiver]] falling into British hands. The British also assumed control of [[Florida]], a number of islands in the Caribbean, and territories in [[India]].<ref name="ACRG"/>

During the [[Seven Years' War]], the British Empire, alongside its allies, who included [[Portugal]], a number of Germanic states, and the [[Iroquois]], faced a large coalition of powers, including France, [[Austria]], [[Russia]], and Spain. The war occurred due to a number of factors, the primary reason being British attempts to expand further into Canada, which was primarily controlled by France at the time, and the Caribbean which was divided between Europe's major powers, with Spain possessing the most holdings there.<ref name="ACRG"/>

The British fought against the French across the northern border of the American colonies, primarily in the River Valley and the North Atlantic. Amongst those fighting for or alongside the British were [[Shay Cormac]], General [[Edward Braddock]], [[George Washington]] and [[John Pitcairn]] as well as [[William Johnson]], Colonel [[George Monro]] and Captain [[James Cook]].<ref name="ACRG"/>

The [[Royal Navy]]'s strength resulted in the French being cut off from their colonies, and ultimately led to a swift takeover of France's North American territories, resulting in the transfer of sovereignty of all French possessions in the North Atlantic and the River Valley to the British. The [[Templars|Templar Order]] was also active in New York, systematically disposing of [[Assassins|Assassin]]-affiliated [[gangs]].<ref name="ACRG"/>

Striving for control and order, King George II of Great Britain's goals were in line with the aims of the Templar Order. As a result, the British received the backing of the Order and ultimately won the war. Despite this, the victory had led to increased disparity in the Thirteen Colonies, as a result of high taxation levied by King George in order to pay for the war.<ref name="AC3"/>

===Thirteen Colonies===
[[File:Welcome to Boston 1.png|thumb|250px|Overlook of Boston's docks]]
During the mid 18th century, the British Empire faced a [[American Revolution|rebellion]] of its colonies in North America, the Thirteen Colonies following the [[French and Indian War]]. The Thirteen Colonies were taxed heavily and forced to provide soldiers for the war.<ref name="AC3"/>

As a result, British Americans grew dissatisfied with the rights they were given by their sovereign state. This intensified with the [[Boston Tea Party]], [[Boston Massacre]] and the [[Battles of Lexington and Concord]] which started the [[American Revolutionary War]] between the Thirteen Colonies and the British Empire.<ref name="AC3"/>

While the British maintained the upper hand during most of the conflict, she faced opposition from a number of European colonial powers such as Spain, France and the [[Netherlands]] who supported the Thirteen Colonies so to weaken Britain's position in Europe. Britain came under fear of the loss of other colonies and protectorates in Canada, Europe and India.<ref name="AC3"/>

The [[Continental Army]] under leadership of Commander George Washington eventually emerged victorious, and the colonies achieved their independence after the {{Wiki|Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris}}, resulting in the foundation of the United States. The loss of the Thirteen Colonies marked the end of the First British Empire.<ref name="AC3"/>

==The Second British Empire==
===War against French Empire===
In 1803, the [[French Empire]], started to take possession of the neighboring areas in [[Europe]]. However, the British Empire began to form a [[British Army|military]] resistance alongside their allies in order to stop the [[French Army]] advance.

A remarkable battle that took place during this [[Napoleonic Wars|conflict]], was the {{Wiki|Battle of Trafalgar}} in 1805, when {{Wiki|Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Admiral Horatio Nelson}} led the [[Royal Navy]] to defend the [[United Kingdom]] from [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s [[French Navy]].

===Company rule in India===
During the early 19th century, the British Empire started expand into India and were present during [[Ranjit Singh]]'s reign as Maharaja of the newly founded [[Sikh Empire]], maintaining a good relationship with the Sikhs for several years.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brahman]]''</ref>

===Victorian Era===
{{Main|Victorian era}}
The [[Victorian era]], was what marked the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the [[United Kingdom]], during this time, the country was ruled by [[Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]. At this point, the empire was expanding worldwide, there were technological advances and the middle class has developed.

==References==
{{GalleryBox|British Empire}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Former empires]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]