The Betrothal of Princess Marie-Louise of France to Prince Victor Baldwin of the Empire of New York was announced by M. Jean-Claude Bertrand, Emissary of Emperor Napoleon, and Michael II Emperor of New York in Albany this week.
The betrothal, a solemn agreement is recognized at this point more as a strong gesture of diplomatic amity than an actul instrument of engagement, but the announcement was greeted with a chill in Alexandria and Newport News, as it completed a cycle of Diplomacy which has moved the French Empire and the Empire of New York closer while pushing Jeffersonia to arms reach.
While there is already one high profile match between the Empires...that of Princess Natalie and the French Prince Imperial, political observers cited that union as a concession by Michael II to a powerful rival faction within his own state, descended from the RUssian Mafia.
"While the French Empire has never acted openly against Michael II, there has always been some concern that the marriage of the Prince Imperial and Princess Natalie could open the door for a Russian Coup D'etat, with the French Empire pushing a claim by Maria or Prince Pietro," said Hearst Social Correspondent Elizabeth Meyers.
Prince Victor Baldwin is the son of Prince Carlos of New York and Princess Hodierna of Jerusalem. His claim to Royal blood is through the HOuse of Savoy (King Umberto of Italy) and the Baldwin Kings of Jerusalem. Princess Marie-Louise, a granddaughter of Napoleon I Buonaparte, is a Bourbon (through her father) and a Habsburg (through Napoleon's wife Marie-Louise of Austria), as well as a Bonaparte.
The dynastics are mostly a matter for those who follow tabloids in ENY, but in Threads which severed before 1850, they may create powerful prestige and recognition for the Imperial heir. At the least the betrothal suggests a strong support of the French Crown for the line of Michael II, and provide a substantial thaw in relations.
