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

===Overseas adventures===

In the 1850s, following the end of the war in [[Carolina]], Aedanicus set his eyes on western [[Crona]]; he was the first [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] to do so. Since the middle of the 17th century, the Levantine powers - [[Urcea]] included - held various trade rights throughout northwestern Crona around the Sea of Nysdra, especially within [[Quetzenkel]]. The nascent states of [[Burgundie]] held trade investments and colonial interests - even in its early state - in Crona, [[Punth]], and [[Audonia]], and King Aedanicus believed Urcea's next project should be a demonstration of its power abroad. While the [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] was mostly inadequate in comparison to other Occidental powers, it would be suitable enough to bring diplomats and soldiers to Crona. Power projection was not Aedanicus's only goal, however; in an effort to strengthen army recruiting, the King had promised land to veterans of the [[Third Caroline War]], and territory in the Carolinas had long since been taken. The Urcean territory in Crona would be a settler colony rather than a mere exploitative one. Based out of trading centers in Quetzenkel, Urcean officials began to search the neighboring regions for a suitable territory to acquire via negotiation if possible. In 1857, a suitor was found; the [[Northern Confederation]] tribe of the Schoharie was willing to sell land in its southernmost tip, which was primarily swampy and unusable to the locals. Urcea purchased the land for 4 million talers, and King Aedanicus formally proclaimed the [[New Harren#New%20Harren|Colony of New Harren]] the next year, as veterans and others willing to try their luck began settling the land in 1859.  

===Cultural revival===

Aedanicus's reign was characterized by a cultural renaissance in Urcea. A spirit of national renewal had been on the rise since the end of the [[Second Caroline War]] during the reign of King Niall, as the reform efforts successfully created a sense of national consciousness. This sense of consciousness exploded after the [[Third Caroline War]], and Romantic nationalism swept the nation, though, unlike in other countries, in induced adoration and praise for King Aedanicus and his predecessor King Niall for their wisdom and strength in leading the country. Though many historians have dismissed Aedanicus's reign as overrated and the praise he received by contemporaries unwarranted, especially considering the reduction of prerogatives of the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] during his reign, 21st century historians have given Aedanicus praise for his full embrasure of the cultural revival in the country at the time. Besides commissioning public arts programs, Aedanicus fully engorged himself in everything the Romantic movement had to offer. Famously, the King convened a [[Great Landsmeet]] in 1858 - an ancient Urcean institution not seen since the 13th century - to adopt the [[Tria nomina movement|Tria nomina system]], which recalled [[Great Levantia|ancient Levantine]] naming systems. The King also involved himself heavily in the appearance of the nation, introducing landscape architecture to the country, which would lay the groundwork for the success of the city beautiful movement in Urcea following the restoration in the early 20th century. His building program included construction of the [[Caroline Arch]], celebrating the Kingdom's victory in the [[Third Caroline War]]. Most famously, the King connected several disparate parks - including the Royal Gardens outside the [[Julian Palace]] built in the Imperial era - into a massive park known as the [[Royal Green]], which stretched across the entirety of [[the Pale]]. The dome of the [[Julian Palace]] had collapsed in 1858, and accordingly, following up on the construction of the new park, the King began a massive renovation of the Julian Palace in 1861. The project, mostly an entire reconstruction of the building, which had been last altered in the 17th century, brought its current Gothic revival form into being. The King relocated to [[Castle Welute]] on a semi-permanent basis after the 1858 collapse and subsequent renovation. During this time, the King also completed a renovation of The Praetorium, the government hub for both [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] and the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]]. All three projects were complete in time for the [[List of world's fairs|1869-70 International Exposition]], when the palace was opened to international visitors for the first six months of the Exposition. The King also ordered the removal of several layers of outer defenses of the then-neglected [[Castle Welute]], including the crumbling outer walls. The King also introduced planned revitalization of the Castle complex, though it was not carried out until the restoration of his son, [[King Patrick III]]. Another major project of the King's was the construction of the [[Carolina-Grand Canal]], beginning in 1865 and completed in 1880. The Canal was the first access point to the Vandarch from the [[Urce River]], and the project helped [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] continue its ascent as a major world economic capital. The canal's 15-year construction would later cause significant problems for the government, as the cost of construction played a role in the large debts incurred by Urcea by the 1880s.