House of Compton

The House of Compton is a noble family and one of the most important royal houses in human history. It originated as the American and Earth imperial house, which succeeded through political maneuvering to create the Terran Empire. The throne of the Terran Empire was held by the House of Compton for the entirety of its existence from 2430 to 2675. The House also produced Emperors of Jupiter, Emperors of America, and Archons of Earth, as well as the flowering of several cadet branches of ducal rank.
Through these mergers, the House of Compton can claim descent and relation to historical Emperors of Mexico and Presidents of American.
== Ancestry ==
The House's origins lay in a 21st century American politician, Charles Edward Compton, who served multiple terms as President of the United States from 2025 to 2049. His son Sebastian was made President for Life in the 2080s, a position his own son Edward earned in 2094. Edward married the heiress of the claimed Empire of Mexico, and late in his life was given the style Emperor of America and Mexico.
== Rise ==
The American House of Compton became predominant in Earth politics and in the Terran federal government in the 2100s onwards, often participating in the frequent reorganizations of Terran governments and constitutions. Several Secretaries-General of the Terran Confederacy and Presidents of the Terran Federation were from the House of Compton, often the first or second child of the incumbent American Emperor at the time of their term of office. The first and most prominent of them was Gaius Compton, a prominent Terran general who led UN forces to victory in the Interplanetary War, and was conferred the hereditary victory title Prince of Jupiter in 2166 prior to his accession to the American throne. This title was later raised to an emperordom upon the declaration of the Jupiter Trust Territory as a sovereign monarchy under the Compton dynasty.
The House of Compton was instrumental in forming the United Earth Nation, a union of all of Earth's states into a single member-state of the Terran Federation in 2247. As a consequence, the House of Compton became governors of Earth under the title Archon. This consolidated the delegates of previously separate Earth states into a single delegation, making Earth as a whole more powerful within the Federation. With the later development of the aristocratic Terran Dominion in the 2300s under the aegis of Archon Lucius Compton, the separate delegations within the upper assembly was abolished in favor of a nonpartisan upper house consisting of nobles and magnates from across Terran space. The Earth delegation still dominated the lower house, with its large population outweighing the populations of other member worlds and colonies. The head of state office, a Lord Protector serving for life and elected by a plenary assembly of the whole legislature, was often held by House Compton and its allies.
In the late 24th century, Prince Andrew Compton became Archon and steered Earth's delegation into advocating war with the Soviet Republic, which was shepherded into a declaration of war by his son Tristan, who had taken the position of Lord Protector of the Federation. Popular opinion later surged against Tristan's mismanagement of the war, however, and mass protests broke out demanding his resignation. Tristan, for reasons still debated to this day, took his own life in January 2424, and Archon Andrew abdicated. William acceded to the Archonate and was elected Lord Protector almost immediately.
Under William, the Federation turned its war effort around and won spectacular victories. William voluntarily resigned the Lord Protectorate in early 2428. But the assassination of next two Lords Protector, in less than a year, led the Federation parliament to consider making the Lord Protectorate hereditary to the House of Compton, to safeguard the succession of the head of state. William Daniel Francis Charles Compton was elected Lord Protector once more, and declared by Parliament to be the first Terran Emperor in 2430.
=== Emperor of America ===
Charles Compton, who held the office of President of the United States from 2025 to 2049, established the House of Compton. His son, Sebastian, President from 2077 to 2085, buoyed off the popularity of his father and his own wartime leadership to have himself vested with Presidential power for life, which was confirmed by plebiscite. When he died in 2094, his own son Edward was voted these powers for life. In 2121, Edward dispensed with the image of collegiality and pushed for a constitutional amendment that formalized an office of extra-presidential power, and styled him as Emperor of America and Mexico. From 2121 to 2347, the head of the House of Compton reigned as constitutional Emperor of America. These emperors were:
* Edward, President and Emperor (2045-2127), reigned 2121-2127
* son, Charles II, Emperor of America and Mexico (2077-2158), reigned 2127-2158
* daughter, Rose (2100-2175), reigned 2158-2175
* son, George I (George Gaius, 2120-2202), reigned 2175-2202
* son, Charles III (Charles Victor, 2144-2222), reigned 2202-2222
* son, Lucius (2170-2247), reigned 2222-2247
* son, Charles IV (Charles Lucius), reigned 2247
=== Prince/Emperor of Jupiter ===
George Gaius Compton held the hereditary title Prince of Jupiter from 2166, which became held by the head of the House in 2205 after he acceded the American throne. This title, however, was a peerage and did not entitle the holder to sovereignty over Jupiter. The third holder of the title uprated it to Emperor after the UN Trust Territory for Jupiter declared independence. The holders of the title to the establishment of the Earth Archonate were:
* George Gaius (2120-2202), incumbent 2166-2202
* son, Charles Victor (2144-2222), incumbent 2202-2222
* son, Edward (2170-2247), incumbent 2222-2247
* son, Charles Lucius (2194-2261), incumbent 2247
=== Archon of Earth ===
While this position was elected, every incumbent was the then-current head of the House of Compton.These were:
* Charles Lucius (2194-2261), reigned 2247-2261
* son, Charles William (2201-2299), reigned 2261-2299
* daughter, Rosemary (2231-2318), reigned 2299-2318
** son, Prince Sebastian (2255-2317)
* grandson, Archibald (2291-2339), reigned 2318-2339
* brother, Lucius (2295-2365), reigned 2339-2365
* daughter, Caroline (2316-2402), reigned 2365-2402
* son, Andrew (2340-2424), reigned 2402-2424
** son, Prince Tristan (2368-2424)
* second son, William (2369-2437), reigned 2424-2437
== Terran Emperor ==
The Terran Empire was, as first established, a constitutional and executive monarchy. The Emperor, embodied in William I and his heirs, were the "first servant of the people", an ideal hearkening back to French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century. Despite this, the Emperor had to contend with feudalism and political disturbances, which reached their peak in the 2500s. Constitutional and structural issues led to political gridlock that prevented the Emperor from exercising their domestic authority. Under the reigns of Mary II and Francis Charles IV, the Empire was reformed as a stronger parliamentary monarchy with the Emperor wielding supreme executive power and a parliament elected by proportional representation. This model lasted until the Empire was abolished and its territories formed the core of the new Republic. The holder of the title, Maximilian Charles I, abdicated and abolished the empire, passing the title as a peerage to his sister. 
=== Sovereign Emperors of the Terran Empire ===
* William I (2381-2437), reigned 2430-2437
* son, Baldwin I (2394-2447), reigned 2437-2447
* son, Francis Charles I (2419-2459), reigned 2447-2459
* son, Baldwin II (2441-2460), reigned 2459-2460
* brother, Francis Charles II (2450-2474), reigned 2460-2474
* brother, Baldwin III (2451-2489), reigned 2474-2489
* cousin, Mary I (2453-2510), reigned 2489-2510
* son, Francis Charles III (2466-2525), reigned 2510-2525
* sister, Mary II (2477-2555), reigned 2525-2555
* son, Francis Charles IV (2501-2564), reigned 2555-2564
* son, Francis Charles V (2521-2581), reigned 2564-2581
* daughter, Mary III (2545-2596), reigned 2581-2596
* son, Francis Charles VI (2568-2631), reigned 2596-2631
** daughter, Crown Princess Mary (2592-2630)
* grandson, Francis Charles VII (2617-2668), reigned 2631-2668
* son, Maximilian Charles I (2644-) reigned 2668-2675
== Collateral lines ==
The House of Compton has produced numerous collateral lines throughout its long history. The earliest of these are the American royal dukedoms, descended from the children of Sebastian Compton. When his son Edward William Charles Compton was granted the style of Emperor, he bequeathed dukedoms to his siblings. Each dukedom carries with it an array of subsidiary titles: a princedom, two earldoms, three vice-counties, and four baronies each, relating in some way to the geographic environs of the dukedom.
=== Duke of New England and Prince of Massachusetts ===
Full title: His/Her Highness, Duke of New England, Prince of Massachusetts, Earl of Maine, Earl of Providence, Earl of Vermont, Viscount Boston, Viscount Condord, Viscount Connecticut, Baron of Bar Harbor, Baron of Harvard, Baron of Yale, Baron of Salem. 
* Samuel Andrew, 1st Duke of New England (2047-2139), incumbent 2122-2139
* son, Sebastian James, 2nd Duke of New England (2079-2181), incumbent 2139-2181
* son, Edward James George, 3rd Duke of New England (2110-2200), incumbent 2181-2200
* brother, James George Washington, 4th Duke of New England (2114-2229), incumbent 2200-2229
* son, Samuel John Quincy, 5th Duke of New England (2144-2260), incumbent 2229-2260
** son, John James Edward, Earl of Maine (2161-2259)
* grandson, Charles Edward Sebastian, 6th Duke of New England (2188-2299), incumbent 2260-2299
* son, Andrew Paul Edward, 7th Duke of New England (2211-2312), incumbent 2299-2312
** son, Louis Paul John, Earl of Maine (2240-2310)
* grandson, John Paul Charles, 8th Duke of New England (2266-2369), incumbent 2312-2369
* son, Paul James Edward, 9th Duke of New England (2298-2424), incumbent 2369-2424
* daughter, Edith Elizabeth, 10th Duchess of New England (2320-2339), incumbent 2424-2339
* daughter, Margaret Mary, 11th Duchess of New England (2344-2461), incumbent 2339-2461
** daughter, Irene Elena, Countess of Maine (2370-2460)
* grandson, John Oberon, 12th Duke of New England (2400-2552), incumbent 2461-2552
* son, John Edward Francis, 13th Duke of New England (2440-2559), incumbent 2552-2559
* son, Edward Fitzgerald, 14th Duke of New England (2480-2589), incumbent 2559-2589
* son, Alan Patrick, 15th Duke of New England (2502-2601), incumbent 2589-2601
** son, Joseph Edward, Earl of Maine (2525-2595)
*** son, Jonathan Emilio, Viscount Boston (2546-2594)
* great-grandson, Joseph James, 16th Duke of New England (2570-2660), incumbent 2601-2660
** son, John Baptist, Earl of Maine (2599-2655)
* grandson, Samuel Francis II, 17th Duke of New England (2630-), incumbent 2660-
=== Duke of New York and Prince of Pennsylvania ===
Full title: His/Her Highness, Duke of New York, Prince of Pennsylvania, Earl of Long Island, Earl of Philadelphia, Earl of Trenton, Viscount Manhattan, Viscount Brooklyn, Viscount Allegheny, Baron of Liberty Island, Baron of Sleepy Hollow, Baron Catskill, Baron Adirondack.
* George Alexander Hamilton, 1st Duke of New York (2048-2151), incumbent 2122-2151
* son, Alexander Edward, 2nd Duke of New York (2080-2192), incumbent 2151-2192
* son, Charles John Jay, 3rd Duke of New York (2111-2216), incumbent 2192-2216
* son, John Charles, 4th Duke of New York (2137-2246), incumbent 2216-2246
* son, William Alexander, 5th Duke of New York (2169-2278), incumbent 2246-2278
* grandson, William Edward, 6th Duke of New York (2220-2309), incumbent 2278-2309
* son, Alexander George, 7th Duke of New York (2244-2327), incumbent 2309-2327
* son, George Hamilton, 8th Duke of New York (2268-2379), incumbent 2327-2379
* great-grandson, Alexander George, 9th Duke of New York (2344-2489), incumbent 2379-2400
*son, Albert Charles, 10th Duke of New York (2366-2469), incumbent 2400-2469
*son, Alexander William, th Duke of New York (2392-2500), incumbent 2469-2500
*daughter, Angelica Chase, 12th Duchess of New York (2422-2511), incumbent 2500-2511
* son, George Alexander, 13th Duke of New York (2448-2541), incumbent 2411-2541
* son, Alexander Edward, 14th Duke of New York (2468-2566), incumbent 2541-2566
*daughter, Elizabeth Andrea, 15th Duchess of New York (2507-2587), incumbent 2566-2587
*grandson, George Francis, 16th Duke of New York (2565-2616), incumbent 2587-2616
*son, Alexander Stephen, 17th Duke of New York (2595-2661), incumbent 2616-2661
* son, Alexander George, 18th Duke of New York (2615-2667), incumbent 2661-2667
* son, Alexander Hamilton George, 19th Duke of New York (2636-), incumbent 2667-
=== Duke of the Potomac and Prince of Virginia ===
Full title: His/Her Highness, Duke of the Potomac, Prince of Virginia, Earl of the Chesapeake, Earl of Delaware, Earl of Maryland, Viscount Arlington, Viscount Richmond, Viscount Shenandoah, Baron of Baltimore, Baron of Jamestown, Baron of Mount Vernon, Baron of Roanoke. 
* George Washington James, 1st Duke of the Potomac (2049-2160), incumbent 2122-2160
* son, Thomas James, 2nd Duke of the Potomac (2087-2199), incumbent 2160-2199 
* son, George Thomas, 3rd Duke of the Potomac (2100-2202), incumbent 2199-2202
* grandson, Thomas John, 4th Duke of the Potomac (2145-2250), incumbent 2202-2250
* son, George Edward, 5th Duke of the Potomac (2195-2320), incumbent 2250-2320
* son, Francis Edward, 6th Duke of the Potomac (2222-2356), incumbent 2320-2356
* great-grandson, James John, 7th Duke of the Potomac (2300-2451), incumbent 2356-2451
* grandson, George John, 8th Duke of the Potomac (2362-2481), incumbent 2451-2481
* son, George Louis, 9th Duke of the Potomac (2395-2502), incumbent 2481-2502
* great-grandson, Louis Emanuel, 10th Duke of the Potomac (2482-2600), incumbent 2502-2600
* son, Thomas James, 11th Duke of the Potomac (2500-2633), incumbent 2600-2633
* grandson, James Charles, 12th Duke of the Potomac (2550-2688), incumbent 2633-2688
* son, Edward Emanuel, 13th Duke of the Potomac (2577-2691), incumbent 2688-2691
* son, George Emanuel, 14th Duke of the Potomac (2603-), incumbent 2680-
=== Duke of the Mississippi and Prince of Louisiana ===
Full title: His/Her Higness, Duke of the Mississippi, Prince of Louisiana, Earl of Missouri, Earl of Illinois, Earl of Iowa, Viscount of New Orleans, Viscount of Kansas, Viscount Memphis, Baron Vicksburg, Baron Minneapolis, Baron Chicago, Baron Springfield.
* Elizabeth Mary Charlotte, 1st Duchess of the Mississippi (2060-2166), incumbent 2122-2166
* daughter, Agatha Elizabeth, 2nd Duchess of the Mississippi (2082-2190), incumbent 2166-2190
* grandson, Edward James, 3rd Duke of the Mississippi (2130-2261), incumbent 2190-2261
* great-grandson, Randolph James, 4th Duke of the Mississippi (2200-2300), incumbent 2261-2300
* grandson, John Tecumseh, 5th Duke of the Mississippi (2258-2350), incumbent 2300-2358
* daughter, Caroline Mary, 6th Duchess of the Mississippi (2280-2409), incumbent 2358-2409
* son, William Tecumseh, 7th Duke of the Mississippi (2315-2415), incumbent 2409-2415
* son, Victor Tecumseh, 8th Duke of the Mississippi (2337-2451), incumbent 2415-2451
* daughter, Jane Victoria, 9th Duchess of the Mississippi (2365-2469), incumbent 2451-2469
* son, John Victor, 10th Duke of the Mississippi (2390-2488), incumbent 2469-2488
* son, George Victor, 11th Duke of the Mississippi (2325-2520), incumbent 2488-2520
* grandson, Victor Emanuel, 12th Duke of the Mississippi (2490-2599), incumbent 2520-2619
* great-grandson, Scott James, 13th Duke of the Mississippi (2570-2690), incumbent 2619-2690
* grandson, Edward Tecumseh, 14th Duke of the Mississippi (2629-2730), incumbent 2690-
== Other titles ==
Sons and daughters of the Terran Emperors were generally granted dukedoms of their own upon marriage or, sometimes, upon birth. These titles were revived several times as often the holders of the titles died childless or lasted only a few generations. The eldest son or daughter of the Terran Emperor, who was heir apparent by birth, was always created Duke or Duchess of Saturn. The title Crown Prince(ess) was conferred by Act of Parliament at a subsequent date to the incumbent Duke of Saturn. Other dukedoms, typically relating to the planets of the Solar System, were created as needed.
Aside from the Dukedom of Saturn, these dukedoms were:
* Duke of Neptune
* Duke of Uranus
* Duke of Venus
* Duke of Mercury
*Duke of Pluto