Xavier Marois

Xavier Marois(November 8, 1875 – August 12, 1935), was an Acirien Marxist, egalitarian and journalist who was the founder of the Social Renovation Movement (SRM), which he lead as the Premier from the founding of the Social Renovation Movement in 1910 until his death in 1935. He is known as one of, if not the most influential Marxist in Aciria.

Marois was the second son born to a civil servant in Soleir. His parents were conservative supporters of the Emperor, views he adopted from them at a young age. During his time at the Imperial University of Trosseurs, he was first exposed to Marxist ideas while studying the Acirien language and journalism. During his time at university, the conscription law of 1895 came into effect and he was conscripted into the Grand Army of the Empire for a year before he was able to return to his studies. It was during his conscription service where he met Leon Barbeau, the eventual co-founder of SRM. Shortly after graduating from university, he was employed by the Imperial News newspaper, which he traversed the country for. It was during his travels for the newspaper when he had first-hand experience with the vast economic and social inequalities in the nation, a wrong that he wanted to right in his lifetime.

On April 18th, 1906, Marois' job took him to Chantiers, where his close friend Barbeau lived, working as a bartender. During this visit, Marois spoke to him of the inequalities he had witnessed in his travels, and Barbeau introduced him to the Marxists that frequented his bar. On this trip Marois also met his to-be wife, Claire Laurent. Shortly after returning to Trosseurs from Chantiers, he left his letter of resignation at his job and moved to Chantiers to live with Barbeau. In 1908 Marois married Laurent, who also eventually moved to live with Barbeau and Marois. Laurent wanted to keep her surname, and Marois not only allowed it, but encouraged it due to his egalitarian views. In 1910, he and Barbeau officially founded the Social Renovation Movement after purchasing a printing press and using it to spread leaflets for SRM around Chantiers. Originally the SRM gathered in the bar, but quickly the space grew too small, requiring Marois to ask for a members fee to purchase an office for meetings and business regarding SRM. The SRM quickly grew, amassing support from not only the lower classes, but even higher class women supported the SRM due to their egalitarian views, encouraging the empowerment and rights of women.

During a march in Trosseurs on August 12th, 1935, Marois was shot dead by a radical supported of the Empire, Lucas Lajoie. Following his death the SRM quickly fell apart, until the radical Mikael Letendre united the factions with promises of revolution to avenge the unjust death of Marois. The Marois era of SRM is remembered and seen fondly even by non-Marxists of today due to their egalitarian views and attempts to push the agenda through peaceful means.