In 1792, during a social gathering of the United Kingdom's elite, a mentally unstable servant attempted to assassinate the future King George IV. Alasdair was the only one to notice the servant approaching the prince, and reacted quickly to tackle the assassin as he attacked, saving the life of George IV.
In recognition of his bravery, King George III granted Alasdair the troublesome island then known to the British as RIOT (believed to be an acronym for Remote Indian Ocean Territory), which he had become enamored with while stranded on the island just 3 years earlier. Despite it's appearance as a gift, historians believe that the land grant was a form of exile on the advice of Thelonius's father, William Alasdair, who despised his son's rebellious lifestyle.
"The Architects"
"The Architects"
Thelonius spent 2 years planning out a city for the island, which he named Meridona, a form of the word Meridional that he found easier to pronounce. As some of the finest architects constructed the city of Alasdairo, Thelonius travelled the world, recruiting wealthy, like-minded acquaintances he had met throughout his previous travels. Like Thelonius, many of the first wave of Meridona's settlers were members of their homeland's aristocracy who had grown accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle but felt held back by rigid traditions. They brought with them exorbitant wealth and thousands of laborers to make their own mark on a new land. For their role in establishing much of Meridona's original infrastructure, these first wealthy settlers have been known as "The Architects".
Independence
Independence
As the island's population began to rise and new financial opportunities opened up, Meridonans began to call for independence. Alasdair and his governing committee were reluctant at first, as many of the island's upper class still relied on their families' wealth and feared a call for independence would create a political battle.
When word of the Meridonan's wish for independence reached the British, Bradford Alasdair, Thelonius's brother and editor of The Press and Journal, wrote a scathing article, criticizing Meridona as a "godless playground for wealthy deviants" and called for the UK to reclaim what was theirs, despite never visiting the island himself. Thelonius responded to the article by severing ties with his entire family and calling for Meridonan independence.
The British recognized the growing financial appeal of Meridona, but also feared that a takeover of the island would result in a political crisis, as several of the families were members of powerful dynasties back in their home countries. They chose instead to broker a deal with Thelonius and the governing committee. Exactly one year after the passing of Lord Alasdair, the governing committee and the British reached an agreement, settling on a price that has remained a mystery but is rumored to be one of the most expensive land deals in history. On October 14, 1861, Meridona officially became an independent nation.
