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History of Urcea (1902-1955): Difference between revisions
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The Urcean economy became increasingly unstable due to the loosened restrictions on usury proclaimed by the King several years earlier. In [[1908]], the Royal Bank of Urcea informed the [[Concilium Purpaidá]] that received interest on its excessive lending was insufficient and that the Bank may face an insolvency issue by the late 1910s. This fact became public in February 1909, leading to major concerns of debts being called in. On 12 February 1909, a massive market sell off began as speculators sought to have enough liquid capital to cover a debt recall. This sell-off lead to a chain reaction beginning the [[Great Depression]] in [[Urcea]] and [[Levantia]] as a whole. The National Democratic Party-lead [[Concilium Daoni]] passed the "National Banking Act" on 12 March 1909, which reinforced pre-Interregnum anti-usury laws and ordered the Royal Bank to restructure by changing from an interest-based to a [[Levantine banking and finance|non-interest based system]]. These moves stabilized the economy for the time being, but the country was plagued with some political turmoil for a decade to come. While the country remained more stable than it had been in the period of the Regency, a low-level war began between the [[Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration]] and the insurgent [[Republican Party (Urcea)|National Republican Army]], whose ranks swelled with unemployed, especially unemployed veterans. | The Urcean economy became increasingly unstable due to the loosened restrictions on usury proclaimed by the King several years earlier. In [[1908]], the Royal Bank of Urcea informed the [[Concilium Purpaidá]] that received interest on its excessive lending was insufficient and that the Bank may face an insolvency issue by the late 1910s. This fact became public in February 1909, leading to major concerns of debts being called in. On 12 February 1909, a massive market sell off began as speculators sought to have enough liquid capital to cover a debt recall. This sell-off lead to a chain reaction beginning the [[Great Depression]] in [[Urcea]] and [[Levantia]] as a whole. The National Democratic Party-lead [[Concilium Daoni]] passed the "National Banking Act" on 12 March 1909, which reinforced pre-Interregnum anti-usury laws and ordered the Royal Bank to restructure by changing from an interest-based to a [[Levantine banking and finance|non-interest based system]]. These moves stabilized the economy for the time being, but the country was plagued with some political turmoil for a decade to come. While the country remained more stable than it had been in the period of the Regency, a low-level war began between the [[Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration]] and the insurgent [[Republican Party (Urcea)|National Republican Army]], whose ranks swelled with unemployed, especially unemployed veterans. | ||
== Imperial resurgence == | |||
With Urcea as a fully integrated member of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] once again and a seat in the [[Collegial Electorate]], [[King Patrick III]] fully committed the Kingdom to supporting the cause of Emperor and Empire. In 1911 he cast his vote for the election of [[List of Emperors of the Levantines#Marius%20Dynasty|August I]] of [[Burgundie]], both because he sincerely believed in his capacity to rule but also as part of a larger effort to continue courting [[Burgundie]] as a close ally. The [[Collegial Electorate]] believed that Burgundie, as the relatively-new premier power in [[Levantia]] (given [[Urcea]]'s isolation since 1889), could be trusted to lead the Empire back to stability. [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalists, already in revolt or planning revolt in some principalities in [[Dericania]], severely resented the notion of a [[Bergendii]] ruling over them. For most Derian nationalists, the memory of the [[First Fratricide]] - and the effect it had on the possibility of a unified Deric Republic - was an open wound, and resentment against an Emperor from [[Burgundie]] worsened the situation "on the ground" in most Deric principalities. | With Urcea as a fully integrated member of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] once again and a seat in the [[Collegial Electorate]], [[King Patrick III]] fully committed the Kingdom to supporting the cause of Emperor and Empire. In 1911 he cast his vote for the election of [[List of Emperors of the Levantines#Marius%20Dynasty|August I]] of [[Burgundie]], both because he sincerely believed in his capacity to rule but also as part of a larger effort to continue courting [[Burgundie]] as a close ally. The [[Collegial Electorate]] believed that Burgundie, as the relatively-new premier power in [[Levantia]] (given [[Urcea]]'s isolation since 1889), could be trusted to lead the Empire back to stability. [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalists, already in revolt or planning revolt in some principalities in [[Dericania]], severely resented the notion of a [[Bergendii]] ruling over them. For most Derian nationalists, the memory of the [[First Fratricide]] - and the effect it had on the possibility of a unified Deric Republic - was an open wound, and resentment against an Emperor from [[Burgundie]] worsened the situation "on the ground" in most Deric principalities. | ||
In 1911, the [[Derian people|Derian]] state of Anivania in Dericania declared itself a Serene Republic, creating the inference of its own independence; Emperor August had already committed Burgundie and some Imperial states to the War of Faskano Strait, precluding any intervention. Many of the princes of the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] decided to take matters into their own hands only to find themselves in danger of being overthrown by their own subjects once military mobilization began. The Emperor's diplomatic efforts precluded the outbreak of war, but low-level domestic violence began to occur throughout Dericania and between the various principalities within it. Though his confidence in the Emperor was deeply shaken with Burgundie's failure in the War of Faskano Strait, he nonetheless committed Urcea to the Emperor's program of connecting railroads and constructing a telegraphy network. [[King Patrick III]] died in 1917 and was succeeded by his 57-year old son, | In 1911, the [[Derian people|Derian]] state of Anivania in Dericania declared itself a Serene Republic, creating the inference of its own independence; Emperor August had already committed Burgundie and some Imperial states to the War of Faskano Strait, precluding any intervention. Many of the princes of the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] decided to take matters into their own hands only to find themselves in danger of being overthrown by their own subjects once military mobilization began. The Emperor's diplomatic efforts precluded the outbreak of war, but low-level domestic violence began to occur throughout Dericania and between the various principalities within it. Though his confidence in the Emperor was deeply shaken with Burgundie's failure in the War of Faskano Strait, he nonetheless committed Urcea to the Emperor's program of connecting railroads and constructing a telegraphy network. [[King Patrick III]] died in 1917 and was succeeded by his 57-year old son, Niall, who became King Niall VI. King Niall kept Urcea committed to the Emperor's infrastructure efforts, which strengthened the physical connection between Urcea and [[Burgundie]] even if the efforts were a failure in some other parts of the Empire. | ||
Despite King Patrick's support for the Emperor and the importance of the relationship between Urcea and Burgundie, it became clear by 1919 that Emperor August was no longer capable of serving as [[Emperor of the Levantines]] with any sense of legitimacy. King | Despite King Patrick's support for the Emperor and the importance of the relationship between Urcea and Burgundie, it became clear by 1919 that Emperor August was no longer capable of serving as [[Emperor of the Levantines]] with any sense of legitimacy. King Niall nonetheless remained a silent critic of the Emperor and made no public call for his abdication, but the King made it clear in private channels that he had no confidence in the Emperor's ability to remedy the deteriorating situation in [[Dericania]]. In December of 1919, Emperor August proposed a compromise with the [[Derian people|Derian]] liberal nationalist faction: he would divest himself of the title of [[Kingdom of Dericania|King of Dericania]], granting it to a reform-minded Derian prince, with Dericania being modeled on [[Fiannria]]'s position within the Empire. This move, which would transform the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] into something resembling a loose alliance between [[Urcea]], [[Fiannria]], [[Dericania]], and [[Burgundie]], was viewed as completely unacceptable by a majority of representatives of the [[Imperial Diet]], who voted to reject it in December. Though the King-Elector maintained public silence, the Emperor asked him for his support and confidence in late January 1920, and King Niall sent no reply. Without Urcean support and facing increasing opposition in [[Burgundie]] for accommodation with the hated [[Derian people]], Emperor August announced on January 29th, 1920, that he would abdicate the throne on the 8th of February, and the [[Collegial Electorate]] immediately met in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]] to ensure that the Imperial Throne did not sit vacant at such a critical hour. The Collegial Electorate met for the entire week prior to Emperor August's abdication, unable to choose a candidate. Eventually, the compromise notion of electing King Niall of Urcea as [[Emperor of the Levantines]] - completely unthinkable a few decades prior - became a real possibility. He was not [[Bergendii]], and the wounds of the [[Third Caroline War]] were not as deeply felt in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] as the [[First Fratricide]] was. Further, the Collegial Electorate believed the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] was strong enough to intervene and ensure that the Deric princes could retain their thrones in the face of revolutionaries. It was also believed that [[Urcea]] leading the Empire would command supreme respect, not only among the subjects of the Empire, but also abroad; evidence of [[Caphiria|Caphirian]] intervention became more and more evident by the year, and the Electors believed only [[Urcea]] could prevent [[Caphiria]] stoking the fires of [[Latinic people|Latinic]], [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalism. On February 7th, despite the misgivings of nearly every member of the [[Collegial Electorate]], including King Niall himself, the Collegial Electorate elected King Niall VI of [[Urcea]] as King of the Levantines. The next day, Niall was given the traditional coronation ceremony by the [[Pope]] in the Imperial Palace in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]], becoming [[Emperor of the Levantines|Emperor]] Niall II. He was the first Urcean and the first member of the [[House de Weluta]] to sit on the Imperial Throne since 1798, more than 120 years prior. | ||
==Preparing for the next war== | |||
Emperor | |||
==Imperial reign of the de Welutas== | |||
King Niall VI as [[Emperor of the Levantines]], photographed in 1924. | |||
Emperor Niall II's first act was to enter into negotiations with Anivania in order to reestablish Imperial supremacy in exchange for recognition of the Republic, an effort that would end in failure. Despite the efforts he and his father had been working on for nearly two decades, the Emperor still felt that the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] - which had just gained its Imperial designation - was not ready for a major armed conflict. Instead, he convinced the princes of [[Kingdom of Dericania|Dericania]] to eject Anivania from the free trade area of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], totally isolating the country economically and diplomatically. The Emperor's move had the intended effect - the government of the Serene Republic of Anivania collapsed by June 1920 and the Duke of Anivania was restored the same month. Unfortunately for the Emperor, the starvation conditions in Anivania had the effect of radicalizing the [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalists, who were soon dispersed throughout the [[Kingdom of Dericania]]. Though history has recorded agitating groups in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] as "Derian nationalists", in truth there were many different groups with entirely different ideologies and motives united by the belief of a united Deric republic. Among these groups were socialists agitating for the abolition of monarchy and independence of the Derian people, many of whom were involved in the government of Anivania. Many of these individuals fled to the Electorate of Aescarata, which erupted in a socialist revolt in 1921. From the perspective of [[Urcea]], the Electorate falling to rebel groups was an entirely different proposition than Anivania as the Electorate sat on Urcea's border. On August 1st, 1921, the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]]-controlled [[Concilium Daoni]] gave its overwhelming support to Emperor Niall II for a military intervention. The [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]], which had not fought in a real battle since the [[Red Interregnum]], invaded Aescarata on August 15th. The reformed Royal and Imperial Army quickly subdued the rebellion and occupied the country by the end of August. Seeking not to repeat the failures in Anivania, the Emperor traveled to [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]] to put the matter before the [[Imperial Diet]]. Following weeks of debate, the Diet finally returned a solution. Aescarata was not strictly [[Derian people|Derian]] like its neighbors, having [[Urcean people|Urcean]], [[Gassavelian people|Gassavelian]], and [[Bergendii]] influences besides a unique local culture. Consequently, the Diet decided that removing Aescarata from the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and reassigning it to the legal fiction of the [[Imperial Kingdom of Urcea]], putting the Electorate under the Emperor's direct supervision. The Diet also offered the Emperor, if the [[Concilium Daoni]] approved, the right to garrison the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] in the country for a period of ten years in order to restore order. The Daoni approved, and the Imperial Charter was officially changed on March 1st, 1922. [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalists, far from placated by the removal of a marginally Derian country from Dericania, considered this an insult to the dignity of the Derian people and a repeat of the [[First Fratricide]], where the proposition of a united Deric state was fractured. Derian nationalists, socialists, and independence-minded liberals began agitating at a level unseen, and during this period [[Caphiria]] made formal contact with these subversive groups via a series of agents. Despite the unrest, most considered the Emperor's interventions in Anivania and Aescarata to be a success, and for the time being the geopolitical situation in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] was stable. The Emperor was aware things were not what they seemed; that unrest, plans for revolt, and Caphirian ties were bubbling under the surface, but Emperor Niall II felt his hands were tied; the Aescarata situation had been a risk, and further provocations in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] could make it appear as if [[Urcea]] was planning to dominate the Empire, not restore it to stability. | |||
As the Apostolic Kingdom prepared to focus on its external affairs and the duties of the [[Emperor of the Levantines]], a decade and a half of instability and political turmoil came to a close. Following about fifteen years of unsuccessful efforts to restore the [[Urcean Republic]], the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|National Republican Army]] decided to disband in [[1924]]. As a consequence, the Republican Party was legalized and became a legitimate political party, though in the upcoming [[1925]] [[Concilium Daoni]] election it would fail to gain seats. Improving economic conditions in Urcea in addition to effective techniques employed by the [[Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration]] lead to the NRA's significant decline by 1919. The negotiated end to the NRA lead to increased public scrutiny against the Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration, which was viewed as an unnecessary. Although the nation's secret police was used sparingly between 1924 and 1927, it continued operations until its final abolition in 1927. | As the Apostolic Kingdom prepared to focus on its external affairs and the duties of the [[Emperor of the Levantines]], a decade and a half of instability and political turmoil came to a close. Following about fifteen years of unsuccessful efforts to restore the [[Urcean Republic]], the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|National Republican Army]] decided to disband in [[1924]]. As a consequence, the Republican Party was legalized and became a legitimate political party, though in the upcoming [[1925]] [[Concilium Daoni]] election it would fail to gain seats. Improving economic conditions in Urcea in addition to effective techniques employed by the [[Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration]] lead to the NRA's significant decline by 1919. The negotiated end to the NRA lead to increased public scrutiny against the Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration, which was viewed as an unnecessary. Although the nation's secret police was used sparingly between 1924 and 1927, it continued operations until its final abolition in 1927. | ||
Early in 1925, an election in the Republic of [[Lutsana]] - a state in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] - returned the Lutsana Worker’s Party in the government. The LWP appointed an openly communist Prime Minister. The Emperor was compelled by the princes to suppress the results of the election and adopt an Empire-wide policy of rollback in order to combat revolutionary threats. The Diet and Emperor issued a joint proclamation demanding a new election, but the government of Lutsana refused. The conservative-minded Army of Lutsana viewed this proclamation as delegitimizing the new LWP-lead government, and consequently the Army launched a coup, but were soon defeated by an army of workers and peasants. The Emperor sought to intervene, but the 1925 [[Concilium Daoni]] was considered close and, as [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], | Early in 1925, an election in the Republic of [[Lutsana]] - a state in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] - returned the Lutsana Worker’s Party in the government. The LWP appointed an openly communist Prime Minister. The Emperor was compelled by the princes to suppress the results of the election and adopt an Empire-wide policy of rollback in order to combat revolutionary threats. The Diet and Emperor issued a joint proclamation demanding a new election, but the government of Lutsana refused. The conservative-minded Army of Lutsana viewed this proclamation as delegitimizing the new LWP-lead government, and consequently the Army launched a coup, but were soon defeated by an army of workers and peasants. The Emperor sought to intervene, but the 1925 [[Concilium Daoni]] was considered close and, as [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], Niall did not want to take any drastic moves to interfere with the normal functioning of government. This, combined with the attention the King was increasingly showing towards the growing crisis in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]], lead to a further strengthening of the precedent of Royal withdrawal within the [[Constitution of Urcea]]. The 1925 election saw a resurgent [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] threatening the now two-decades long control of the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]]. The National Pact was sympathetic towards the liberals in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and was concerned with the growing power the King was accumulating as Emperor. The National Democratic Party, on the other hand, viewed themselves as fierce defenders of the existing Constitutional settlement and champions of stability and order in [[Levantia]]; the NDP held that the existence of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] was absolutely necessary to ensure stability and prevent open war, a position it had dramatically reversed on since the party's founding during the FitzRex era. It additionally campaigned on the notion that a challenge to Niall as Emperor was a challenge to Urcea and an insult to national pride. This attitude was increasingly being felt throughout Urcean society, and the refusal of Lutsana to comply with the Emperor and eject its radical socialist party - one that many Urceans associated with the horrors and excesses of the [[Urcean Republic]] two decades earlier - resonated with the people. The National Democratic Party won a commanding majority in the [[Concilium Daoni]] in 1925 and the government consequently created a series of temporary laws - collectively known as the Regional Stability Acts of 1926 - allowing the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] absolute carte blanche control of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]] for use in [[Levantia]]. The government issued a statement of support for the King's reign as Emperor. These policies were collectively referred to by a phrase used in a speech made by then-[[Chancellor and Temporary President|Chancellor]] Seán Virius: "The Emperor's word is [[Urcea]]'s word", or in other words, that the will of the Emperor was the will of the [[Government of Urcea]], and to refuse the lawful demands of the Emperor was an insult of Urcea's national pride. Though the situation in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] was rapidly declining by January 1926, the supreme confidence invested in him by the [[Government of Urcea]] gave him renewed confidence to impose the will of the Empire in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]]. | ||
In February of 1926, another imperial state, Geneseo, elected a syndicalist government and the election results were confirmed by the Duke of Geneseo before he fled the Duchy. The Emperor issued another proclamation demanding the election be reconsidered, and like in the [[Lutsana]] case it was refused. Unlike in the case of Lutsana, the Emperor sent an expeditionary force of the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] through [[Dericania]] to subdue the government of Geneseo. The Royal and Imperial Army was stopped at the border of the Margraviate of Novaustramark, which refused entry to the Royal and Imperial Army. Following three days of tense standoff, the Derian nationalist-filled Novaustramark army began firing on the expeditionary force, causing a major international incident. The Emperor appeared in person before the [[Imperial Diet]] and demanded the Duke of Novaustramark be censured and asserted that the Imperial Army could enter any territory within the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] in order to execute the business of the Empire. The princes of Dericania, though appreciative of the Emperor's efforts, chafed severely under this assertion and refused to censure Novaustramark. The [[Concilium Daoni]] was outraged and demanded the King take action. Seeing no other option, on March 3rd, 1926, King | In February of 1926, another imperial state, Geneseo, elected a syndicalist government and the election results were confirmed by the Duke of Geneseo before he fled the Duchy. The Emperor issued another proclamation demanding the election be reconsidered, and like in the [[Lutsana]] case it was refused. Unlike in the case of Lutsana, the Emperor sent an expeditionary force of the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] through [[Dericania]] to subdue the government of Geneseo. The Royal and Imperial Army was stopped at the border of the Margraviate of Novaustramark, which refused entry to the Royal and Imperial Army. Following three days of tense standoff, the Derian nationalist-filled Novaustramark army began firing on the expeditionary force, causing a major international incident. The Emperor appeared in person before the [[Imperial Diet]] and demanded the Duke of Novaustramark be censured and asserted that the Imperial Army could enter any territory within the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] in order to execute the business of the Empire. The princes of Dericania, though appreciative of the Emperor's efforts, chafed severely under this assertion and refused to censure Novaustramark. The [[Concilium Daoni]] was outraged and demanded the King take action. Seeing no other option, on March 3rd, 1926, King Niall VI began the full mobilization of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]]. The mobilization was enough to break the will of Novaustramark and compel the Diet into censuring the Duke; the mobilization was partially canceled although the Army was now on permanent elevated alertness. The Army quickly restored the Duke in Geneseo and crushed the rebellion. After the incident, the Royal and Imperial Army pulled out but established heavy garrisoning on Urcea's eastern border as well as positions in [[Burgundie]]. The Emperor's garrisoning of Burgundie was intended to be a vote of support for Burgundie against the increasing pressure it was put under from neighboring Derian nationalists. Derian nationalists and the princes alike viewed this as an insult and implicit threat, and the entire Novaustramark incident had severely polarized the [[Imperial Diet]]. The Emperor decreed at the end of March that Novaustramark, Aescarata, and Geneseo would be responsible for footing the cost of the bases in [[Burgundie]], yet another severe insult to the Derian national consciousness. | ||
Despite the fact he himself was a constitutional monarch, | Despite the fact he himself was a constitutional monarch, Niall himself deeply believed in the rights of the princes of the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and the principle that Urcea ought not and, legally, could not be concerned with the internal affairs of other members of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]. Following the conclusion of the Novaustramark incident, a faction within the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]] met with the Emperor and tried to steer a change of national course. It was suggested that the Emperor should force the princes to attempt reforms, aligning the institution of the Empire with the various reform-minded liberals and the majority of the [[Derian people]] rather than with the princes. This course of action was secretly endorsed by [[King Brian IV|Prince Brian]] of [[Principality of Halfway|Halfway]], though his involvement in organizing the conference was not revealed until the 1950s. The meeting was a failure as the Emperor rejected the course of action as cowardly and an illegal intervention in Latin affairs. Despite this, the Concilium Daoni continued to support the Emperor and applauded his successful intervention in Novaustramark and Geneseo. The [[Urcean people]] also generally approved of the Emperor's actions and felt that the national honor had been avenged. The remainder of spring and early summer were peaceful and stable, though the [[Imperial Diet]] was now a contentious place where, on June 3rd, fist fights broke out between the members. In July, the peace was disrupted in multiple states as Imperial Tax Collectors meant for Novaustramark were viciously assaulted, branches of the Imperial bank were robbed and destroyed, and the residents of several Imperial princes were violently attacked. The Emperor again announced the mobilization of the whole Army; this time, there would be cancellation. Fifteen states were in some kind of conflagration by the middle of fall, and the Emperor was hesitant to fully use the might of the Royal and Imperial Army lest the [[Imperial Diet]] begin to turn against him. | ||
===2nd Great War Domestic bits (salved from main)=== | ===2nd Great War Domestic bits (salved from main)=== | ||