History of Urcea (1798-1902): Difference between revisions

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The Assembly voted, in the middle of March, to completely abolish the [[Social class in Urcea|optimate and privilegiata]] classes, establishing a so-called "socialist nation of freemen". Within the first three months of its existence, the Republic's efforts - including the workshop program - had largely been effective in revitalizing the city's wartorn economy and ending the food shortage. The Republic's existence galvanized socialists within the remaining territory it controlled, and many came streaming into [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to join the Guard. While the Republic saw some political and social successes, the National Republican Army saw a series of reversals on the front. Legitimist and Imperial forces routed Republican defenders at the critical Battle of the Urce on July 9th, 1902, creating a large hole in the defensive line around the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]]. Most of the officers of the National Republican Army - conservative privilegiata - surrendered after the Battle, but about half of the forces from surrendered armies defied their officers and retreated to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to defend the Republic. Historians and scholars have debated whether or not the average Republican soldier was a socialist or truly believed in the Republic. A consensus has formed suggesting that about a third of these soldiers were committed republicans of some form or other, but most had developed a hatred of the enemy in the last five years of war and wanted to continue fighting. Whatever the cause, more than 75,000 soldiers - many of whom were gravely injured or ill - continued on to Urceopolis to defend the Republic. By August, the Republic was reduced to just the city and its environs, and the [[Siege of Urceopolis]] began. On paper, the remaining National Republican Army and National Guard forces numbered somewhere around 300,000, but scholars have estimated that the amount of men ready for service was not higher than 125,000, and the realistic figure was probably around 75,000 fit to fight at their peak.
The Assembly voted, in the middle of March, to completely abolish the [[Social class in Urcea|optimate and privilegiata]] classes, establishing a so-called "socialist nation of freemen". Within the first three months of its existence, the Republic's efforts - including the workshop program - had largely been effective in revitalizing the city's wartorn economy and ending the food shortage. The Republic's existence galvanized socialists within the remaining territory it controlled, and many came streaming into [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to join the Guard. While the Republic saw some political and social successes, the National Republican Army saw a series of reversals on the front. Legitimist and Imperial forces routed Republican defenders at the critical Battle of the Urce on July 9th, 1902, creating a large hole in the defensive line around the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]]. Most of the officers of the National Republican Army - conservative privilegiata - surrendered after the Battle, but about half of the forces from surrendered armies defied their officers and retreated to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to defend the Republic. Historians and scholars have debated whether or not the average Republican soldier was a socialist or truly believed in the Republic. A consensus has formed suggesting that about a third of these soldiers were committed republicans of some form or other, but most had developed a hatred of the enemy in the last five years of war and wanted to continue fighting. Whatever the cause, more than 75,000 soldiers - many of whom were gravely injured or ill - continued on to Urceopolis to defend the Republic. By August, the Republic was reduced to just the city and its environs, and the [[Siege of Urceopolis]] began. On paper, the remaining National Republican Army and National Guard forces numbered somewhere around 300,000, but scholars have estimated that the amount of men ready for service was not higher than 125,000, and the realistic figure was probably around 75,000 fit to fight at their peak.


Under siege, the Republican government adopted an increasingly radical posture, moving from a position that could be called revolutionary democratic socialism to a more overt dictatorship of the proletariat, purging the remaining privilegiata from the officer corps and arresting any remaining former [[Social class in Urcea|optimates]] as potential fifth columnists. Increasing war footing alienated the outer boroughs of the city, which had always been tepid in their support, leading to the Republican forces retreating into [[Urceopolis#The%20Pale|the Pale]] and [[Urceopolis#Oldtown|Oldtown]], which they fortified. The radical footing of the government undermined its authority, however, as a dispute with the [[Pope]] led to the National Guard seizing the [[Papal State]], sending Pope Leo XIII fleeing to allied lines and polarizing the thoroughly Catholic population of the Republic, as the Church - heretofore a neutral party - now fully condemned the revolutionary government. The radicalization also resulted in a crackdown on the [[Commonwealth Union (Urcea)|Commonwealth Union]], which soon fled the city and defected to the Legitimist cause, making a large public disavowal of republicanism in the process.
Under siege, the Republican government adopted an increasingly radical posture, moving from a position that could be called revolutionary democratic socialism to a more overt dictatorship of the proletariat, purging the remaining privilegiata from the officer corps and arresting any remaining former [[Social class in Urcea|optimates]] as potential fifth columnists. Increasing war footing alienated the outer boroughs of the city, which had always been tepid in their support, leading to the Republican forces retreating into the heart of Urceopolis within the [[Urceopolis_(City)#Via_Corona|Via Corona]], which they fortified and barricaded. The radical footing of the government undermined its authority, however, as a dispute with the [[Pope]] led to the National Guard seizing the [[Papal State]], sending Pope Leo XIII fleeing to allied lines and polarizing the thoroughly Catholic population of the Republic, as the Church - heretofore a neutral party - now fully condemned the revolutionary government. The radicalization also resulted in a crackdown on the [[Commonwealth Union (Urcea)|Commonwealth Union]], which soon fled the city and defected to the Legitimist cause, making a large public disavowal of republicanism in the process.


On September 8th, combined Urceo-Burgoignesc marine forces stormed [[The Pale]], successfully taking the island after a short skirmish on the [[Royal Green]], which notably left bullet holes in parts of the Levantine Forum which can still be seen today. The same day, the [[King Patrick III|Prince of Halfway]] took up residence in the [[Julian Palace]] but announced he would not take the crown until the whole of Urceopolis was unified under Royal control. The Republican government, now confined to Oldtown, grew increasingly radical and formed the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]], the only legal party within the Daoni. The siege continued on and, without access to the [[Urce River]], the city slowly began to starve once more. The once-strong political binds between the workers and the Republic slowly began to fray, and party officials were often seen openly feuding in the street and gathering rival street gangs. Morale recovered somewhat to begin October as a Legitimist raiding party was captured and publicly executed as reactionary traitors, giving the impression that the National Republican Army was still a fighting force of note. By October, fighting men (and, by now, women) fit for combat was probably no higher than around 40,000 due to defections, disease, and the loss of The Pale. Legitimist forces could have stormed the city - allied forces were probably around 400,000 all told - but a potential sack of Urceopolis was considered to be the absolute worst possible scenario for the legitimacy of the Restoration.
On September 8th, combined Urceo-Burgoignesc marine forces stormed [[Urceopolis_(City)#New_City|New City]], successfully taking Urceopolis's governing center a short skirmish on the [[Royal Green]]. The same day, the [[King Patrick III|Prince of Halfway]] took up residence in the [[Julian Palace]] but announced he would not take the crown until the whole of Urceopolis was unified under Royal control. The Republican government, now confined to Old City, grew increasingly radical and formed the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]], the only legal party within the Daoni. The siege continued on and, without access to the [[Urce River]], the city slowly began to starve once more. The once-strong political binds between the workers and the Republic slowly began to fray, and party officials were often seen openly feuding in the street and gathering rival street gangs. Morale recovered somewhat to begin October as a Legitimist raiding party was captured and publicly executed as reactionary traitors, giving the impression that the National Republican Army was still a fighting force of note. By October, fighting men (and, by now, women) fit for combat was probably no higher than around 40,000 due to defections, disease, and the loss of The Pale. Legitimist forces could have stormed the city - allied forces were probably around 400,000 all told - but a potential sack of Urceopolis was considered to be the absolute worst possible scenario for the legitimacy of the Restoration.


==== End of the Republic ====
==== End of the Republic ====