British Empire
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
The English Empire's origins began with the discovery of North and South America during the Age of Discovery. Several European countries including England began to establish colonies and protectorates overseas in an attempt to increase their power globally.
By the 18th century, England held a significant number of possessions in North America. The largest of these was a collection of colonies known as the Thirteen Colonies. Alongside this, England controlled much of coastal Canada including Nova Scotia.[1] In the Caribbean, the Kingdom of England held a number of significant portly cities including Kingston, Jamaica and Nassau. The English also ruled over Belize,[2] the Cayman Islands, Ireland and Barbados, where Stede Bonnet lived as a moderately wealthy land-owner.[3] Trinidad was also a British procession, and the birthplace of Adéwalé.[4]
The First British Empire
The Golden Age of Piracy and the War of Spanish Succession
The "British" Empire was formed when the kingdoms of Scotland and England united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as Great Britain. At this time, the British Empire was at war with the Spanish and French Empires over the disputed Spanish throne. The British used this as a way of further expanding their empire through territorial disputes across the Americas.
Alongside this, Britain was also dealing with the threats of piracy. 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.
This prompted the British to begin it's 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.[3]
The Seven Years' War
Prior to the war, the cities of Albany, New York, and Halifax, were controlled by the British along with minor settlements including Greystone, Lock Cliff and St. Nicolas. The Empire expanded its holdings by taking possession of the River Valley and North Atlantic, resulting in towns and cities including St. John's, Percé and St Anthony, as well as La 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 Carribbean, and territories in India.[1]
During the Seven Years' War, the British Empire alongside its allies including 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 for the British being the desire to expand it's North American possessions, primarily into Canada (which was mostly ruled over by France at the time) and the Caribbean (which was distributed between all of Europe's major powers yet was particularly dominated by Spain).
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.
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 Templar Order was also active in New York, systematically disposing of Assassin-affiliated gangs.
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.[2]
Thirteen Colonies
During the mid 18th century, the British Empire faced a 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.
As a result, 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.
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.
The Continental Army under leadership of Commander George Washington eventually emerged victorious, and the colonies achieved their independence after the 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.[2]
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.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Rogue
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed III
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Freedom Cry
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brahman