Tsar of the River; 1944
An absurdly exaggerated portrait of the Tsar's coronation
The spring months of 1934 were filled with reorganisation, consolidation, and a palpable sense of destiny. A treaty was signed with the Reichskommissar in April after the USSR was finally extinguished by the Germans; and Manchukuo was free to do with her conquests as she wished. At the suggestion of Prime Minister Li the territories of the Amur and of Kabaykalsk were placed under White Russian administration until they decided what to make of them. A zemsky sobor was convened amongst the resident priests and aristocracy to undertake this task but everyone knew it was just a formality.
An absurdly exaggerated portrait of the Tsar's coronation
The only question was who was to be Tsar. An invitation to the Romanov Duke Cyril (legitimist claimant to the throne) was swiftly rejected as Cyril "refused to be a puppet on barbarian strings" and it fell to the assembly to elect from amongst their own ranks. Nikolay Vakhrushev never stood a chance due to his non-aristocratic blood just as Count Vladimir withdrew his name for consideration; and after heated debate Count Andrei Vladvistik Blandrevoka was dutifully elected as Tsar of the Amur Territory.
The Russian Representative Council formally petitioned the Emperor for the independence of the Kabaykalsk and Amur regions and thereafter quietly declared the existence of the Imperial Amur Territory. Tsar Andrei's coronation in a tiny surviving Orthodox church was attended by the Prince Imperial of Manchukuo, the local Reichskommissar, a Japanese marquis, and the Metropolitan of Harbin; and the Imperial seat located in Blagoveshchensk. The Russian Quarter of Harbin was soon emptied as Russian emigres flocked to the small territory.
A watercolour of Beth Chaim Synagogue; the first synagogue constructed in Beth Hadash
Notable was the immediate re-establishment of the Sanhedrin; the universal court of Jewish law that acted as the central authority of Judaism in Biblical days. After the Diaspora it's practical re-establishment was nigh impossible however due to the, ah, delicate state of European Jewry after the National Socialist streamroller of the 30s; the restoration was now not only feasible but put into practice. As almost all the worlds remaining Rabbis had already emigrated to Sakhalin the matter of establishing it as a universal authority was simple; with noted Ukrainian Rabbi Tevye Applebaum being elected as Nasi of the Sanhedrin.
Finally on the 23rd of May; the Grand Duchy of Beth Hadash was inaugurated. His Imperial Majesty was crowned Grand Duke of Beth Hadash by the Nasi; and as "Protector of the Jewish faith" to whom "Yahweh, the God of heaven has given all the Kingdoms of the earth". Afterwards and with arguably greater pomp and circumstance Abraham Kaufman was sworn in as Lord-Chancellor of the Grand Duchy; promising to uphold both Imperial and Rabbinical law. As tears streaked the Chancellor's face, many knew that the Zionist dream had been (albeit partially) achieved.
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