North American Pretender Crisis

The North American Pretender Crisis was a diplomatic incident which occurred between the North American Confederation and the Kingdom of Eniarku when the reigning king of Eniarku, Aaron I, attempted to claim the North American throne for the House of Abbott. This action, taken at the behest of the king's Council of State, was part of a scheme to expand the Eniarkian border by annexing the Confederation. King Aaron's proclamation prompted immediate action from the provisional government of the Confederation, led by Emperor William and Prime Minister Joseph Marx, and resulted in a short period of high political and diplomatic tension between not only the Confederation and Kingdom, but also numerous other American micronations. Eventually, international and diplomatic pressures convinced King Aaron to relinquish his claim and dismiss his Council, formally ending the diplomatic incident.

Background
The origin of the crisis can be traced back to the factions and final days of the Meek government. While the general cause of the collapse of the Meek government were the political and philosophical differences and in-fighting between the Confederation's founders, the touchstone for the collapse and the Interregnum which followed can be found in the Micras Crisis. In early March 2011, a debate began between the Conservatives and the Commu-Socialists regarding a proposal to transfer the nation over to Micras, a geofictional simulation site. The Conservatives, with the support of Emperor William, believed that the nation was beginning to stagnate and that efforts by then-Prime Minister Aaron Meek were leading to far too much political power and influence in the hands of the Commu-Socialists. Micras, they argued, would allow for a revitalization of the nation. This opinion was quickly countered by the Commu-Socialists, with support from the Libertines, who argued that such a move would end the Confederation's efforts to establish a successful secessionist state and could only lead to an inevitable decline of the nation overall. While the debate would continue into April, most believed the crisis would be easily resolved and Confederation politics would very soon return to normal. This attitude changed however, with the announcement of Emperor William's abdication on the 17th of April and the departure of the Conservative party to Micras. "...[the North American Confederation] will officially become a republic with Aaron Meek acting as both Head-of-Government as well as Head-of-State...I herewith renounce for all time claims to the Imperial throne of the North American Confederation...I expect of [the citizens] that they shall render assistance to those in actual power in the North American Confederation, in protecting the people from the threatening dangers of anarchy, and foreign rule..."

- Emperor William's Statement of Abdication

Following the statement came confusion on the matter of succession for those who remained. The Commu-Socialists quickly approved of the Emperor's action, attempting to assert control over the government with their largest opposing faction now non-existent. For the Libertines, led by then-Foreign Minister Joseph Marx, however, the issue was more complicated. They argued that neither Emperor William or Prime Minister Meek had the legal right to abolish the monarchy or establish a republic. Such an action could be only have been performed by the North American Congress. Therefore, according to the House Law of New Europe, which remained the only official document on the matter of Imperial succession, Emperor William's brother, Jonathan, became the new Emperor. This new debate, now between Eniarku and the Republic of Ohio, quickly deteriorated any semblance of unity within Confederation politics, and on the 28th of April 2011, Prime Minister Meek announced, without the approval of Ohio, the secession of Eniarku and end of the Confederation, officially beginning the Interregnum. For nearly four years, no official head of state or government for the NAC could be agreed upon. This confusion ended when William resumed his title as Emperor and named Joseph Marx as the new Prime Minister of a provisional government. This new government quickly began enacting laws reestablishing international relations, including with a now independent Eniarku, and internal laws to ensure that such a succession question or conflict might be avoided in the future, passing the Unification Agreement of 2015 and the Imperial House Law.