Alexander Hartmann

Alexander Hartmann (1818 - 1868) was a prominent German politician during the first half of the 19th century and Ambassador to the CSA and USA in the 1860s. Hartmann was most famous for being assasinated by John Wilkes Both after the latter shot US President Lincoln.

Early life
Alexander Hartmann was born in Munich, Bavaria in 1818, born to a nouveau riche father in Bavaria he proved himself to be audacious at a young age. Charming and Charismatic, Hartmann susupposedly was first arrested at the young age of 14 for participating in a aborted rebellion against the Bavarian Crown. According to his autobiography he got out of imprisonment via the seduction of the Warden's Daughter.

Hartmann, an ardent anglophile for his entire life emigrated to London at the age of 16, living there for two years. However he proved unpopular, with most unwilling to lend money to a German Catholic who's father had fought for Napoleon. He finally, much to character had to flee Britain after engaging in an affair with the daughter of a marquees.

Hartmann then emigrated to Berlin, managing to charm his way into a minor sum of money, which he used to start building a factory.

Early Political Career
In 1835, Alexander Hartmann ran for the Prussian Landtag. As a man of republican connections and Bavarian birth, he was not particularly well liked by the electorate. Nonetheless, he eked out a bare win by campaigning hard against a protestant opponent

Hartmann immediately joined the Radical Faction, finding himself among the ranks of men like Lutz von Sommer and Friedrich Jarling. During his time in the Landtag, Hartmann proved a polarizing figure. Hartmann won over many lower class citizens with his wit, charisma, oratical prowess and tireless advocacy for the poor and downtrodden.

Leadership of Radicals and Party Change
In 1835, Hartmann assumed de facto leadership over the Radicals after Lutz von Sommer went into exile. Von Sommer had given a speech, one that directly attacked the monarchy. Several hours afterwards, an anonymous tip was given to him, informing him of impending arrest. The two main members of the Party agreed for Hartmann to become Leader.

Hartmann as leader proved to be a medicore success, always disdainful of movements such as feminism and prohibition, issues the Von Sommer wing endorsed. Hartmann moreover quietly founded several republican clubs in 1841, in an attempt to spread the Radicals Message.

In 1844, Lutz von Sommer had decided to return as leader of the Radical faction, Von Sommer manoeuvred rapidly, gaining the support of Fredrich Jarling. Upon this victory he attempted to have Hartmann schedule an conference near the border, so he could attend. Hartmann saw through this and declined. When Lutz Von Sommer was permitted to return to Prussia, Hartmann saw the writing on the wall and resigned from the party, as the leader. Hartmann later claimed that his greatest achievement in this period was assisting the removal of censorship laws.

Hartmann, greatly popular amongst the working classes was invited to and joined the Liberal Party, an center left party at the time.

The Saxony Plot
In 1845, Alexander Hartmann was approached by Angelo von Bültzingslöwen in an attempt to get him to join the Saxony Plot. Hartmann agreed to meet him early in the afternoon. Hartmann angered attacked him and forced him out of his house.

Hartmann proved vicious in his condemnation of Angelo, yet the police believed in the word of a lord over that of a commoner, and let him go. A belated attempt by a group of reactionaries to get Angelo to avoid a duel failed Hartmann, and so Hartmann agreed to duel him.

Hartmann, always the Anglophile despised the German tradition of dueling with swords, and so scandalized German High Society with a demand for a pistol duel. Angelo accepted.

The duel lasted two hours, the majority of which was spent due to Angelo's lack of knowledge on the nature of duels. Hartmann managed to win the duel, ending Angelo's career.

In 1846, Alexander Hartmann published a book about the last days of the Roman Republic, which sparked a major debate in Germany about the Classics and Roman history. From 1848 to 1850, Hartmann succeeded Karl Braun and briefly led the newly formed Nationalliberale Partei.

Emigration Diplomatic career
In 1850, Hartmann emigrated to North Carolina. Hartmann would use his money to establish a plantation(whether he owned slaves is uncertain.) Hartmann was elected to the North Carolina house of commons as a Democrat in 1856, amid the collapse in the local Whig party. Hartmann was a conditional unionist after the election of Lincoln, and ultimately was absent in the final vote on secession(the rumor was he was in yet another twist with a woman, although this is unsubstantiated.) After the Union lost the Civil War, Chancellor Ruprecht Birnbaum saw to it that Hartmann was appointed as ambassador to the Confederate States to diplomatically pressure them to eventually abolish slavery. When the US won its war against Mexico, Ambassador Hartmann informed Berlin that he feared a renewed military conflict between the US and the CSA. He was thereafter instructed to increase pressure in Richmond to get the Confederate government to abolish slavery. In 1866, the Confederate States approached Hartmann with a proposal to sign a defensive pact between the CSA and Germany. While Hartmann himself was in favour, Kaiser Wilhelm I and Chancellor Friedrich Krüger were opposed to the idea because it could lead to a confrontation with the US. When the Union once again declared war on the CSA in May of 1868, Alexander Hartmann was ordered to remain in Richmond until August, when he was tasked with informing President Lincoln that Germany was willing to broker a peace deal between the two opposing sides. The Treaty of Richmond formally ended the 2nd US Civil War and saw the CSA reintegrated into the Union. Slavery in the South was abolished. However, not everyone was happy with the outcome and on May 15th, both ambassador Hartmann and President Lincoln were assassinated by a Confederate loyalist while enjoying a play in DC. Hartmann died while trying to catch John Wilkes Booth, who had shot the President moments before.

Personal life
"Germany is the tale of two forces despotism and freedom, always in war. When Freedom stands tall the German eagle sours, while when despotism holds it yoke over the Germans, the nation falls."Alexander Hartmann was a follower of the Catholic faith. In 1835, Hartmann had a relationship with the unmarried Kerstin Leitz, giving him a bastard son called Karl who entered politics in 1855. Karl was so named due to laws against non German names, but he was always called Charles by his father. In 1837, he had a son with a rich factory owner's daughter, Heinrich Hartmann who entered politics in 1875. Alexander was generally known for his populist rhetoric, as well as his charming looks and soft spot for women.