The War

In the early 1860s, Princess Helen Vicci, daughter of Cedric Vicci of Andorra, was a regular guest in both French and Spanish courts. Galas of the era were social niceties that kept the social and economic relations between countries smooth. Any who were not invited were considered unimportant in the royal court of their home country and inconsequential if they did not attend. Few countries ever suffered such an insult since Napoleon Bonaparte, a military genius with few social graces, tried to conquer all of Europe sixty years before. The Noble Courts, rich and corrupt, lived for these social gathering of the elite. Most of all the ladies, oppressed by their patriarchal society, used these forums to shine and gain power.

Princess Helen was no exception and strove to gain as much power as she could through political posturing and subtle seduction of the day. Helen was taught the same skills by her mother, Florence Vicci, the second youngest of an influential baron in Spain who attracted Cedric with the same skills. Helen had her eye on a young Viscount from wine country in the south of France, Namur Wavre. This dapper young man was liked by all, particularly the third youngest niece of Napoleon III, Elba Bonaparte, who noticed as Helen got more and more friendly with Namur. In a play for power to keep those of lower ranking in their place, Elba moved in on Namur and began her courting.

Elba was not courting Namur for her own amusement but for her closest friend Clare Metzer, daughter of Simon Meterz, who had encouraged his daughter to persue the love interest of Helen. Clare had a hidden agenda, as her father, though very rich, was part of the underground Paris Commune. This Marxist group was only just starting in 1867 and did not grow famous until their capture of Paris after the Prussian invasion and victory. This workers' communist organization was looking for a way to clean out the royalty and emplace their own communist system. Clare pushed Elba toward Helen's courtier in hopes of causing conflict between Andorra and France.

Clare and her father Simon hoped to draw the anger of all the Catalan speaking people and bring Spain in to the war. Spain would surly win and with their focus on the Americas they would be easier to topple once in power.

Such power plays were a mainstay of the courts of Europe and Helen, disappointed, backed off but continued to converse with Namur through letters. Over the course of several months in 1867 Helen would talk with Namur at the Galas but have to bow out to Elba when she came by. Royal courts live for these dances of power and got great enjoyment watching and gossiping about Elba's power play.

On the night of the coronation of second most powerful Dutchery in France, where Jean Monet was placed in the seat of power, Elba was feeling particularly cruel. After seeing Helen, Elba quickly got a hold of the same dress and then made her royal appearance with her Uncle, Napoleon III, and then immediately became irate with Helen having the same dress. Elba had the guards usher her off and adorn a much less spectacular dress. Much to her father's duress the guards kept him back from his daughter. As he approached Napoleon III, one king to another, he was not received well and was told to check on the dress that Elba would wear before he allowed his daughter out in public.

Leading the army of 3,000 men himself in to France he simply posed a large dignitary force. They were simply a friendly force in a friendly land with nothing to worry about. Marching in to Paris and straight up to the Kings residence they stormed the building, surprised the French, and quickly gained control of the residence. The French barracks, not a few blocks away, had little time to react but quickly surrounded the building but could not invade for fear of them killing Napoleon III.

Inside Cedric and Napoleon III had a heated argument about respect and heritage. Both insisted they were grander than the other. After hours of screaming they finally started reminiscing about when France and Andorra were one land and the great victories they have had together since then.

Cedric left France that day with no hard feeling from Napoleon III and safely marched back to his Kingdom with a better understanding of each other. Napoleon III later sent a gift of a million dollars and a written apology from his daughter. France and Andorra never had a problem again.

Two years later, after Prussia saw Andorra invade France with such ease they gave it their own shot and insulted France until they declared war. Prussia invaded and captured Paris with almost the same ease Andorra did though they had much more sinister intentions.

The Paris Commune finally got their chance to revolt and took Paris but did not last long until their rule was crushed by the French Goverment.