Medimeria: Difference between revisions

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The period between [[1760]] and [[1820]] in Medimeria was mostly characterized by civil discord. The [[Patroon]] class still held political, social, and economic dominance on the island, but the Patroons and an aristocracy formed of descendants of the first Patroons were far outnumbered by both free Refuge tenants, burghers, and the Ebidi. The growing rights of the now mostly-Protestant Ebidi sparked ethnic tensions on the island largely between themselves and the Refuge tenant farmers, and these rifts for a time were managed by the Patroons who exacerbated tensions on both sides and provided funding and even arms to the most radical agitators in both groups. In [[1777]], the Port Marie massacre saw 14 Ebidi churchgoers killed by a Refuge militia, leading to a series of retaliatory skirmishes in the countryside. A race war appeared imminent, requiring the deployment of troops by the Duchy of Bourgundi to restore peace on the island. The machinations of the Patroons, however, would soon quickly backfire; the Madix Journal published several leaked letters between members of the Conseil Patronal commenting on the success of recent efforts to foment resentment. The news quickly spread among the literate Ebidi and Refuge tenant farmer alike, sparking full blown insurrection and riots on the Patroonships beginning in [[1782]]. The Ducal armies were called upon to halt the rebellion, but avoided direct conflict. The members of the Conseil Patronal issued a formal complaint to the Duchy in [[1784]] regarding the lack of urgency as their estates reached a level of zero productivity, though the residents of the island began to grow in appreciation for the restraint of Ducal troops. An organized insurrectionary army in [[1785]] was formed and rallied around the slogan "''Le duc et son île''" (The Duke and His Island), signifying a desire to replace Patroonal rule with direct rule from Bourgundi. A series of major skirmishes, known as the ''Guerre des loyers'' (Rent War) was fought between the insurrectionists and aristocratic militias as well as estate police forces. In [[1787]] the war came to an end with a declaration of {{wp|martial law}} on the island.

During the three year period beginning in [[1787]], the Ducal government issued major reforms. Most tenant farmers, both Ebidi and Refuge, had their leasehold farmsteads transformed into freeholds, parceling out the major Patroonships to the small farmers. The Patroons were left with their manor houses and enough land to generate enough revenue equivalent to their [[1780]] expenses, and in most cases this left most of the Patroonships profitable due to their drastically decreased scale. ~~Four~~ members from Madix and one member from the city of Saint Marie were added to the Conseil Patronal on the basis of urban elections. One member was added who served as a direct appointment of the Duke of Bourgundi. With order restored, martial law was ended in [[1790]]. Significant resentment on the part of the Patroon class existed towards their fellow islanders, resulting in major class discrimination and a further segregation of the Patroon class from the rest of the island's residents; inversely, the 1787 settlement decreased hostility between the lower orders of both ethnicities and laid the groundwork for integration and a post-manorial economy.

During the three year period beginning in [[1787]], the Ducal government issued major reforms. Most tenant farmers, both Ebidi and Refuge, had their leasehold farmsteads transformed into freeholds, parceling out the major Patroonships to the small farmers. The Patroons were left with their manor houses and enough land to generate enough revenue equivalent to their [[1780]] expenses, and in most cases this left most of the Patroonships profitable due to their drastically decreased scale. Three members from Madix and one member from the city of Saint Marie were added to the Conseil Patronal on the basis of urban elections. One member was added who served as a direct appointment of the Duke of Bourgundi, bringing the Conseil up to its modern membership of 17. With order restored, martial law was ended in [[1790]]. Significant resentment on the part of the Patroon class existed towards their fellow islanders, resulting in major class discrimination and a further segregation of the Patroon class from the rest of the island's residents; inversely, the 1787 settlement decreased hostility between the lower orders of both ethnicities and laid the groundwork for integration and a post-manorial economy.

The 1787 settlement remained largely in place for a generation. In the 1810s, however, many of the now greatly reduced Patroonships began to struggle financially. The lack of readily available labor compounded the issue of smaller manors, and in [[1830]] five of the twelve Patroons were functionally bankrupt. They petitioned for a financial bailout, citing their historic importance and longstanding leadership role on the island; instead, the government of the Duchy of Bourgundi offered to buy their Patroon titles outright. The families were allowed to keep their manor house and directly adjoining lands, but all future political and legal roles were forfeit. All five Patroons begrudgingly accepted, and one Patroon - Loís Vert of Vertdom - was so offended by the offer he sold his manor house too; Vertdom House is today one of the major heritage tourist sites on the island and is home to the Patroon Museum, which details the history of the system and demonstrates an immersive, working example of a Patroonal manor. The five Patroonal seats on the Conseil were replaced first by appointees of the other 12 members before becoming filled by individuals elected in island-wide elections every three years. Between [[1830]] and [[1860]], the remaining seven hereditary Patroons sold their offices to the state, and in 1860 the final hereditary Patroon sold his office, formally ending the three-centuries old system on the island. In [[1863]], the Conseil was reformed; all seventeen of the so-called "elective Patroons" would be elected in island-wide elections, replacing the mixed system of at-large representatives, urban representatives, and an appointed representative from [[Burgundie]].

This period also saw the transition of ownership of the island from the Duchy of Bourgundi to the new state of [[Burgundie]]. Upon its formation, all traditional rights and agreements were ratified as were the other Burgoignesc foreign territories, and accordingly the transition to Burgoignesc statehood did not meaningfully affect the island.

===Peak and decline of Burgoignesc interest===

The advent of the steam engine revolutionized the Medimerian economy and made the island relevant in a military and global trade context. The island's {{wp|Transshipment|transshipment}} role was greatly enhanced in the early 19th century when need for coaling stations became apparent. Coal shipments to and from the island became common as of [[1840]], making Medimeria an absolutely essential stopping-off point for all ships heading east from [[Levantia]]. This period saw the major growth of port infrastructure facilities in Port Marie, which had been a fishing town previously. The wide availability of developable land meant that Port Marie soon eclipsed Madix as the primary port town on the island. The new relevance of the island and its new strategic importance led to the major militarization of Medimeria beginning in [[1855]] by the new Burgoignesc state, [[Burgundie]]. The Port Marie naval base was constructed in the 1850s and persists today as a major military installation. During the [[First Great War]], Medimeria served as the primary hub allowing Burgoignesc control over the [[Sea of Capelan]] against [[Kiravia]]n naval assets.

@@ Line 281: / Line 281: @@
 The period between [[1760]] and [[1820]] in Medimeria was mostly characterized by civil discord. The [[Patroon]] class still held political, social, and economic dominance on the island, but the Patroons and an aristocracy formed of descendants of the first Patroons were far outnumbered by both free Refuge tenants, burghers, and the Ebidi. The growing rights of the now mostly-Protestant Ebidi sparked ethnic tensions on the island largely between themselves and the Refuge tenant farmers, and these rifts for a time were managed by the Patroons who exacerbated tensions on both sides and provided funding and even arms to the most radical agitators in both groups. In [[1777]], the Port Marie massacre saw 14 Ebidi churchgoers killed by a Refuge militia, leading to a series of retaliatory skirmishes in the countryside. A race war appeared imminent, requiring the deployment of troops by the Duchy of Bourgundi to restore peace on the island. The machinations of the Patroons, however, would soon quickly backfire; the Madix Journal published several leaked letters between members of the Conseil Patronal commenting on the success of recent efforts to foment resentment. The news quickly spread among the literate Ebidi and Refuge tenant farmer alike, sparking full blown insurrection and riots on the Patroonships beginning in [[1782]]. The Ducal armies were called upon to halt the rebellion, but avoided direct conflict. The members of the Conseil Patronal issued a formal complaint to the Duchy in [[1784]] regarding the lack of urgency as their estates reached a level of zero productivity, though the residents of the island began to grow in appreciation for the restraint of Ducal troops. An organized insurrectionary army in [[1785]] was formed and rallied around the slogan "''Le duc et son île''" (The Duke and His Island), signifying a desire to replace Patroonal rule with direct rule from Bourgundi. A series of major skirmishes, known as the ''Guerre des loyers'' (Rent War) was fought between the insurrectionists and aristocratic militias as well as estate police forces. In [[1787]] the war came to an end with a declaration of {{wp|martial law}} on the island.
-During the three year period beginning in [[1787]], the Ducal government issued major reforms. Most tenant farmers, both Ebidi and Refuge, had their leasehold farmsteads transformed into freeholds, parceling out the major Patroonships to the small farmers. The Patroons were left with their manor houses and enough land to generate enough revenue equivalent to their [[1780]] expenses, and in most cases this left most of the Patroonships profitable due to their drastically decreased scale. Four members from Madix and one member from the city of Saint Marie were added to the Conseil Patronal on the basis of urban elections. One member was added who served as a direct appointment of the Duke of Bourgundi. With order restored, martial law was ended in [[1790]]. Significant resentment on the part of the Patroon class existed towards their fellow islanders, resulting in major class discrimination and a further segregation of the Patroon class from the rest of the island's residents; inversely, the 1787 settlement decreased hostility between the lower orders of both ethnicities and laid the groundwork for integration and a post-manorial economy.
+During the three year period beginning in [[1787]], the Ducal government issued major reforms. Most tenant farmers, both Ebidi and Refuge, had their leasehold farmsteads transformed into freeholds, parceling out the major Patroonships to the small farmers. The Patroons were left with their manor houses and enough land to generate enough revenue equivalent to their [[1780]] expenses, and in most cases this left most of the Patroonships profitable due to their drastically decreased scale. Three members from Madix and one member from the city of Saint Marie were added to the Conseil Patronal on the basis of urban elections. One member was added who served as a direct appointment of the Duke of Bourgundi, bringing the Conseil up to its modern membership of 17. With order restored, martial law was ended in [[1790]]. Significant resentment on the part of the Patroon class existed towards their fellow islanders, resulting in major class discrimination and a further segregation of the Patroon class from the rest of the island's residents; inversely, the 1787 settlement decreased hostility between the lower orders of both ethnicities and laid the groundwork for integration and a post-manorial economy.
+The 1787 settlement remained largely in place for a generation. In the 1810s, however, many of the now greatly reduced Patroonships began to struggle financially. The lack of readily available labor compounded the issue of smaller manors, and in [[1830]] five of the twelve Patroons were functionally bankrupt. They petitioned for a financial bailout, citing their historic importance and longstanding leadership role on the island; instead, the government of the Duchy of Bourgundi offered to buy their Patroon titles outright. The families were allowed to keep their manor house and directly adjoining lands, but all future political and legal roles were forfeit. All five Patroons begrudgingly accepted, and one Patroon - Loís Vert of Vertdom - was so offended by the offer he sold his manor house too; Vertdom House is today one of the major heritage tourist sites on the island and is home to the Patroon Museum, which details the history of the system and demonstrates an immersive, working example of a Patroonal manor. The five Patroonal seats on the Conseil were replaced first by appointees of the other 12 members before becoming filled by individuals elected in island-wide elections every three years. Between [[1830]] and [[1860]], the remaining seven hereditary Patroons sold their offices to the state, and in 1860 the final hereditary Patroon sold his office, formally ending the three-centuries old system on the island. In [[1863]], the Conseil was reformed; all seventeen of the so-called "elective Patroons" would be elected in island-wide elections, replacing the mixed system of at-large representatives, urban representatives, and an appointed representative from [[Burgundie]].
+This period also saw the transition of ownership of the island from the Duchy of Bourgundi to the new state of [[Burgundie]]. Upon its formation, all traditional rights and agreements were ratified as were the other Burgoignesc foreign territories, and accordingly the transition to Burgoignesc statehood did not meaningfully affect the island.
 ===Peak and decline of Burgoignesc interest===
 The advent of the steam engine revolutionized the Medimerian economy and made the island relevant in a military and global trade context. The island's {{wp|Transshipment|transshipment}} role was greatly enhanced in the early 19th century when need for coaling stations became apparent. Coal shipments to and from the island became common as of [[1840]], making Medimeria an absolutely essential stopping-off point for all ships heading east from [[Levantia]]. This period saw the major growth of port infrastructure facilities in Port Marie, which had been a fishing town previously. The wide availability of developable land meant that Port Marie soon eclipsed Madix as the primary port town on the island. The new relevance of the island and its new strategic importance led to the major militarization of Medimeria beginning in [[1855]] by the new Burgoignesc state, [[Burgundie]]. The Port Marie naval base was constructed in the 1850s and persists today as a major military installation. During the [[First Great War]], Medimeria served as the primary hub allowing Burgoignesc control over the [[Sea of Capelan]] against [[Kiravia]]n naval assets.

Medimeria: Difference between revisions

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