Wikipedia emperor norton

Although Norton had no political power, he was treated deferentially in San Francisco, with many citizens celebrating his imperial presence and proclamations, one of which was calling for a bridge connecting San-Francisco with Oakland, and for the U.

Congress to be dissolved by force. Norton also called for a " League of Nations ", in which his dream was later realized, when it was created on January 10th, , two days after the 40th anniversary of his death. Norton was born in Deptford, Kent, England.

His parents were John Norton d. August and Sarah Norden, who were English Jews. John was a farmer and merchant, and Sarah was a daughter of Abraham Norden and a sister of Benjamin Norden, a successful merchant. The family moved to South Africa in early as part of a government-backed colonization scheme whose participants came to be known as the Settlers. Most likely, Norton was born in the Kentish town of Deptford, today part of London. The best available evidence points to February 4, , as the date of Norton's birth.

Obituaries published in , following Norton's death, offered conflicting information about his birth date. At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, you, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S.

In virtue of the authority thereby invested, you shall henceforth pursue the proper expression of the public voice and the amelioration of the evils under which this nation under God has been labouring. Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco," which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.

Steam Workshop. Civilization VI Customization Wiki. Main Page All Pages. Main page Community portal Recent changes Random page Admin noticeboard. His obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle , "following the best information obtainable," cited the silver plate on his coffin which said he was "aged about 65", suggesting that YOLD could be the year of his birth.

South African genealogies suggest that his father was John Norton d. Sarah was the daughter of Abraham Norden and sister of Benjamin Norden, a successful Jewish merchant. Overall, His Imperial Majesty did an excellent job of obfuscating the truth. One day later, several shiploads of rice from Peru came into San Francisco harbor. As a result, the price of rice plummeted to three cents a pound. Norton tried to void the contract, stating that the dealer had misled him as to the quality of rice to expect.

Although Norton prevailed in the lower courts, the case reached the Supreme Court of California, which ruled against Norton. Norton's mental state was severely affected by these financial setbacks. He declared bankruptcy in YOLD and left the city for a time.

There are no known documents noting that Norton had an eccentric personality prior to the loss of his fortune, so it is not known whether his pronounced eccentricity was a permanent aspect of his character or arose as a result of the stressful financial straits he found himself in during the s. Nonetheless, after his sudden loss of financial stability, Norton became in the absence of a proper diagnosis somewhat "odd," exhibiting the symptoms often referred to as "delusions of grandeur".

When Norton returned to San Francisco from his self-imposed exile, he had become completely disgruntled with what he considered the vicissitudes and inadequacies of the legal and political structures of the United States. On Setting Orange , Bureaucracy 41, Year of Our Lady of Discord , he took matters into his own hands and distributed letters to the various newspapers in the city, proclaiming himself "Emperor of these United States":. 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.

Norton would later add "Protector of Mexico" to this title. Thus commenced his unprecedented twenty-one-year reign over America. In accordance with his self-appointed role of emperor, Norton issued numerous decrees on matters of the state.

After assuming absolute control over the country, he saw no further need for a legislature, and on Setting Orange, Bureaucracy 66, YOLD , he issued a decree that formally dissolved the United States Congress.

In the decree, Norton observed:. In another imperial decree a month later, Norton summoned the army to depose the elected officials of the U. Norton's orders obviously had no effect on the army, and the Congress likewise continued in its activities unperturbed. Norton issued further decrees in that purported to dissolve the republic and to forbid the assembly of any members of the Congress.

Norton's battle against the elected leaders of America was to persist throughout what he considered his reign, though it appears that Norton eventually, if somewhat grudgingly, accepted that Congress would continue to exist without his permission, although this did not change his feelings on the matter.

In the hopes of resolving the many disputes between citizens of the United States during the Civil War, Norton issued a mandate in ordering both the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches to publicly ordain him as Emperor. His attempts to overthrow the elected government of America by force having been utterly ignored, Norton turned his attention and his proclamations to other matters, both political and social. On Prickle-Prickle , Bureaucracy 5, YOLD , he celebrated Zaraday , "being desirous of allaying the dissensions of party strife now existing within our realm", by abolishing both the Democratic and Republican parties.

The failure to refer to Norton's adopted home city with appropriate respect was the subject of a particularly stern edict in Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco," which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor , and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars. Norton was, on some occasions a visionary, and a number of his "Imperial Decrees" exhibited a profound foresight.

Among his many edicts were instructions to form a League of Nations, and he explicitly forbade any form of discord or conflict between religions or their sects. The Emperor also saw fit on a number of occasions to decree the construction of a suspension bridge or tunnel connecting Oakland and San Francisco, his later decrees becoming increasingly irritated at the lack of prompt obedience being exhibited by the authorities:. WHEREAS, we issued our decree ordering the citizens of San Francisco and Oakland to appropriate funds for the survey of a suspension bridge from Oakland Point via Goat Island; also for a tunnel; and to ascertain which is the best project; and whereas the said citizens have hitherto neglected to notice our said decree; and whereas we are determined our authority shall be fully respected; now, therefore, we do hereby command the arrest by the army of both the Boards of City Fathers if they persist in neglecting our decrees.

Given under our royal hand and seal at San Francisco, this 17th day of September, Norton spent his days as emperor inspecting the streets of San Francisco in an elaborate blue uniform with tarnished gold-plated epaulets, given to him by officers of the United States Army post at the Presidio of San Francisco. He also wore a beaver hat decorated with a peacockfeather and a rosette.

He frequently enhanced this regal posture with a cane or an umbrella.